# Iowa State University athletics leadership appointments

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/iowa-state-university-athletics-leadership-appointments
> Updated: 2026-10-23T23:00:01.000Z. Sources: 4. Developments: 2.

Iowa State University has announced new leadership for its athletic department. On October 16, President David Cook selected Jared Benko to serve as the Jamie and Ellen Pollard Endowed Director of Athletics. Benko, who previously held leadership roles at Auburn University, Georgia Southern, and Mississippi State University, is tasked with overseeing the university’s 18-sport intercollegiate program.

Following this appointment, the university named Josh Turner as the new senior deputy athletics director. Turner will work under Benko, reuniting the two former colleagues from their time at Georgia Southern. Turner’s responsibilities include managing strategic planning, revenue generation, and name, image, and likeness (NIL) initiatives.

## Timeline

### 2026-10-23: Josh Turner appointed Senior Deputy Athletics Director at Iowa State

Josh Turner has been named Senior Deputy Athletics Director at Iowa State, where he will lead strategic planning, revenue generation, and NIL initiatives alongside athletics director Jared Benko.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/josh-turner-appointed-senior-deputy-athletics-director-at-iowa-state

### 2026-10-16: Jared Benko named Iowa State University Director of Athletics

Jared Benko has been named the new director of athletics at Iowa State University, bringing over 20 years of leadership experience from Auburn and other institutions.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/jared-benko-named-iowa-state-university-director-of-athletics

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Cite as: Iowa State University athletics leadership appointments. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/iowa-state-university-athletics-leadership-appointments