Iowa State athletic director Jamie Pollard announced Wednesday that he has been diagnosed with testicular cancer.

In an open letter on the Iowa State athletics website, Pollard wrote: "I was recently diagnosed with testicular cancer. I debated sharing this information widely to avoid my diagnosis being a distraction to our athletics program. However, the reality of hiding the news has also been stressful."

Pollard also described how he learned of his diagnosis and expressed optimism after recently being told his cancer has not spread from the original site:

"About four weeks ago, I started to feel pain in my groin after a running workout. After several days of irritation, I identified a lump on my right testicle. After seeing a doctor for an ultrasound, it was determined that surgery was necessary. I had that testicle removed last Tuesday afternoon and, unfortunately, learned a day later it was cancerous. That was sobering news to hear the day before Thanksgiving.

"This past Monday I had a CT scan and additional blood work. My wife, Ellen, and I met with the urologist (who performed my surgery) in the afternoon and learned the cancer had not spread from the original site. Furthermore, my bloodwork (i.e., tumor markers) was still testing normal. Both of those results were welcome news!

"We also discussed next options, which include doing nothing other than monitoring my blood work and performing CT scans every 3-6 months, undergoing chemotherapy, or beginning radiation treatments. We visit an oncologist this Friday to learn more about my treatment options."

Pollard has served as Iowa State's AD since 2005, making him the longest-tenured athletic director in the history of the program.

Born in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, Pollard went on to compete in cross country track and field at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.

His administrative career began shortly after graduating in the form of an associate athletic director role at Saint Louis University from 1989 to 1994. Pollard then became the associate AD at Maryland from 1994 to 1998 and at Wisconsin from 1998 to 2003.

Pollard became deputy AD at Wisconsin from 2003 to 2005 before taking the athletic director role at Iowa State.

The Cyclones have experienced success across multiple sports during Pollard's tenure at the school.

Most notably, the men's basketball team has won the Big 12 tournament four times, including a 78-66 win over Kansas in the 2019 final.

The men's basketball team has also reached the Sweet 16 twice under Pollard, in both 2014 and 2016.

While the football team hasn't been as successful, it did reach the Big 12 Championship Game last year, losing 27-21 to Oklahoma.

The Cyclones are 7-5 this season and set to play in a bowl game for the fifth consecutive season under head coach Matt Campbell, marking the longest bowl streak in school history.