The Weekender: Athletic Director Alan Haller Out At Michigan State, Clemson Football Adds A Basketball Player and Iowa State Football Staffers Disciplined For Gambling

ATHLETIC DIRECTOR ALAN HALLER OUT AT MICHIGAN STATE

Michigan State will have a new athletic director when the next athletic season begins in the fall.

Alan Haller, who served nearly five years as Michigan State’s athletic director, will step down from the role on May 11. Deputy athletic director Jennifer Smith and legendary men’s basketball coach Tom Izzo will serve as co-interim athletic directors while Michigan State brass looks for Haller’s full-time replacement. 

A Michigan State man through and through, Haller — a native of Lansing, Michigan — played football for the Spartans and served in numerous roles on campus, including as a lieutenant in the university’s police department. Haller first joined the Michigan State athletic department in 2010, and rose to deputy athletic director in 2019. 

Haller took over as athletic director in 2021 after the departure of Bill Beekman. His most noteworthy moment came when he fired Spartans football coach Mel Tucker for cause in 2023 following a university investigation into sexual misconduct by the coach. Haller hired Jonathan Smith to take over the football program ahead of the 2024 season.

Statement from Alan Haller. pic.twitter.com/oyg8FBRzQS

— Matt Wenzel (@mwenzel2) May 2, 2025

CLEMSON FOOTBALL ADDS TIGERS POWER FORWARD IAN SCHIEFFELIN

After seeking victory for Clemson on the hardwood over the last four years, Ian Schieffelin will look to do the same on the gridiron in 2025 

Schieffelin, a key contributor for the Clemson men’s basketball team in 2024, will make the transition to football in 2025 — joining Dabo Swinney’s team as a tight end. Schieffelin averaged 12.4 points and 9.4 rebounds per game last season, aiding the Tigers to an NCAA Tournament appearance.

God Bless! pic.twitter.com/cflFFkGsnJ

— Ian Schieffelin (@ian_schieffelin) May 2, 2025

Schieffelin decided to forgo professional basketball opportunities, either overseas or in the NBA G-League, in order to play for the Tigers football team this upcoming season.

Swinney had previously commented on the power forward’s potential on the football, and will now get the opportunity to mold Schieffelin into a tight end — following in the footsteps of other football greats, such as Antonio Gates and Jimmy Graham. 

With hoops szn around the corner, @chapelfowler asked Dabo what position he thinks @ClemsonMBB Ian Schieffelin could play ... which led to a new nickname for the Tigers senior pic.twitter.com/VhymqcMOat

— Marc Whiteman (@MarcWYFFNews4) October 15, 2024

"I've been just training for basketball, getting ready for the next level," Schieffelin told ESPN. "Dabo just walked me through the opportunity he was willing to give me, and it all sounded great, something I wanted to jump on. It really just sparked my interest in wanting to try, and being able to put on a Clemson jersey again was very enticing to me. To be able to be coached by Dabo and [tight ends coach Kyle] Richardson is just a huge opportunity I couldn't pass up."

IOWA STATE FOOTBALL STAFFERS DISCIPLINED FOR GAMBLING

After a state investigation into sports betting activities in Iowa State athletic facilities from 2021-23, five current and former Iowa State football staffers received one-year show-cause orders through April 24, 2026.

Jace Heacock, Chase Clark, Michael Dryer, Kyle Highland and Mason Williams combined to make more than 6,200 online bets on college and professional sporting events, including Iowa State men’s and women’s basketball games. The NCAA classified the violations as Level II for the five staffers, which means that their actions could have violated the NCAA athletics model. 

If any of the staffers are hired by other universities during the show-cause period, they must attend the annual NCAA Regional Rules Seminar and serve a two-week suspension. 

This is the latest update in the years-long saga regarding the state of Iowa’s investigation into collegiate athletes and staffers and sports gambling. A wide collection of Iowa and Iowa State student-athletes have faced discipline for gambling-related offenses as a result of this state investigation.  

ICYMI

DEFENSIVE TACKLE CONCERNS GROW AS TRANSFER OPTIONS RUN OUT FOR OHIO STATE IN 2025

A large collection of departures along the defensive line had the Buckeyes scrambling for talent at defensive end and defensive tackle this offseason, and the options to fill those voids are seemingly dwindling.

MATT PATRICIA TO MAKE $2.5 MILLION, BRIAN HARTLINE TO MAKE $2 MILLION AS OHIO STATE FINALIZES STAFF SALARIES FOR 2025

Ohio State will pay $11.775 million to its assistant coaching staff in 2025, with defensive coordinator Matt Patricia and offensive coordinator Brian Hartline at the top of the payroll.

OHIO STATE’S QUARTERBACK COMPETITION REMAINS TIGHT “TWO-HORSE RACE” BETWEEN JULIAN SAYIN, LINCOLN KIENHOLZ

After a neck-and-neck battle in the spring, the quarterback competition between Julian Sayin and Lincoln Kienholz will remain heated into the fall. 

WHAT’S NEXT

• 118 Days: Ohio State’s season-opener vs. Texas
• 181 Days: Jim Knowles returns to Columbus for Penn State vs. Ohio State
• 209 Days: The Game