AMES, Iowa – Iowa State football Coach Paul Rhoads has repeatedly said that he is proud to be a Cyclone and Friday he added an exclamation point to that sentence by agreeing to a 10-year contract.

“To say that I’m appreciative and humbled is a huge understatement,” Rhoads said. “So many people have contributed to what has been achieved in our program the first three years. I want to thank President Geoffroy and Jamie Pollard, who personally met with me to begin contract talks after the Kansas game in early November. The support of everyone in Cyclone Nation has been fantastic. It’s great to be a Cyclone.”

Rhoads is taking his 2011 team to the Pinstripe Bowl in New York’s Yankee Stadium later this month, the school’s second bowl appearance in three years. During his tenure, Rhoads has quickly ignited a fan base, which broke a nearly three-decade old attendance mark this fall. His teams have authored several of the biggest wins in school history, including the nationally televised upset of second-ranked Oklahoma State in overtime.

“Today is a great day for Iowa State University,” Pollard said. “Paul Rhoads and Iowa State are a perfect match for one another and we could not be happier that he is going to be our football coach for the long term.”

Iowa State has confirmed that the total value of Coach Paul Rhoads’ 10-year contract is $20 million. Full terms of the contract will be released at a later date.