NCAA Issues Show Cause Orders for Iowa State Betting Violations

A handful of Iowa State football support staffers have landed in hot water with the NCAA after placing thousands of sports bets totaling over $100,000. Their actions included wagers on their own university’s basketball games, violating clear NCAA rules.

Good to know

• NCAA issued one-year show-cause penalties to five former or current Iowa State staffers.
• More than 6,200 bets were placed between 2021 and 2023.
• Some wagers targeted Iowa State’s own men’s and women’s basketball teams.

The NCAA investigation confirmed that the individuals knowingly placed bets on both professional and college sports, including games featuring Iowa State’s basketball teams. Their infractions occurred over a two-year span and were classified as Level II violations—those that can affect the integrity of college athletics.

The five individuals—Jace Heacock, Chase Clark, Michael Dryer, Kyle Highland, and Mason Williams—agreed to a resolution with the NCAA. As part of their punishment, they received a one-year show-cause order running through April 24, 2026. If any of them work for an NCAA athletic department during that time, they must attend a Regional Rules Seminar at their own expense and serve a two-week suspension.

The activity came to light during a larger probe into betting among athletes and staff at both Iowa and Iowa State. Investigators uncovered issues such as underage gambling and identity misuse. These latest penalties mirror actions taken against a Baylor staffer who was found using daily fantasy platforms.

Some more inormation on the five named in the ruling:

1. Jace Heacock, son of Cyclones defensive coordinator Jon Heacock, served as a graduate assistant and was recently promoted to director of football analytics. He placed 787 bets totaling $55,359, averaging just over $70 per wager.
2. Chase Clark, once an Iowa State equipment staffer and now with the Detroit Lions, placed 2,305 bets worth $18,676. That included 46 bets on Iowa State basketball.
3. Michael Dryer, who has since moved into sporting goods sales, made 1,182 wagers worth $11,536, including 25 on Cyclones hoops.
4. Kyle Highland, now with Army football operations, was responsible for 509 bets worth $6,365, which included eight bets on Iowa State basketball games.
5. Mason Williams, currently leading equipment operations at Valparaiso, placed 1,455 bets totaling $11,679. Twelve of those were on Iowa State basketball contests.

While these NCAA penalties settle the sports governance side of the matter, the story does not end there. A lawsuit filed by more than 30 individuals claims that Iowa’s Department of Criminal Investigation violated their rights during its inquiry. The plaintiffs say the agency used geofencing software to track their betting activity without obtaining warrants.