Iowa State University Athletics
Two Members of ISU Athletics Development Team Promoted
08.12.2026 | Athletics
AMES, Iowa – Two members of the Iowa State University Athletics Development team, Molly Donnelly and Nathan Johnson, have been promoted to Assistant Athletics Directors, ISU Senior Associate Athletics Director/External Relations Ryan McGuire announced today.
Donnelly will serve as the Cyclones' Assistant Athletics Director for Premium Services & Special Events, areas which she has led for the Cyclone Club since 2015. She oversees all premium services in Jack Trice Stadium and Hilton Coliseum, including the stadium suites, Sukup End Zone Club, Jack Trice Club, Johnny's at Scheman and the new Champions Club. Donnelly also leads the planning and execution of athletics department special events, including the Cyclone Tailgate Tour and Cy's House of Trivia. The 2007 Iowa State graduate and Independence, Iowa native spent eight years as the Cyclones' Director of Wrestling Operations before moving into her current position with the Cyclone Club.
"Molly (Donnelly) has taken our premium experiences and special events from good to great in her time leading this unit," McGuire said. "She prioritizes our donors and ticket holders in everything she does and continues to make their experiences exceptional."
Johnson has been named ISU's Assistant Athletics Director for Major Gifts after serving as the department's Senior Director of Development/Director of Major Gifts since August 1, 2022. He worked as the ISU's Associate Director of Development (2018-21) and Director of Development for Major Gifts (2021-22) before his most recent promotions. Johnson works collaboratively with the ISU Foundation and ISU Athletics teams in serving alumni and friends that have an interest in supporting Iowa State Athletics. The Buena Vista University graduate is a native of Gowrie, Iowa and spent three years on the athletics development team at Wichita State before joining the Cyclone staff.
"Nathan has led our major gifts unit for four years and his time in that role coincides with several of our top fundraising years in Iowa State Athletics history," McGuire said. "That is not a coincidence. He is a true professional that always puts our donors first."
During the 2025-26 fiscal year, ISU's Department of Athletics generated a school-record $52.7 million in gifts, including a record $21.1 million in annual fund giving through the Cyclone Club. Overall, total fundraising production for the recently completed fiscal year was $52.7 million, breaking the previous fundraising record of $41.7 million set in 2020. Some 7,814 fans made 26,707 gifts to the ISU Athletics Department last year, including 48 gifts of $100,000 or more. The Cyclone Club has topped $10 million in annual support for 12-consecutive years, establishing new records in each of the last six years. This year's total of $21.1 million broke the previous record of $19.7 million set in fiscal year 2025.
