Completed Event: Football versus Iowa on September 6, 2025 , Win , 16, to, 13
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Iowa State University Athletics
Football
Aaron Hillmann
- Title:
- Director of Football Performance Operations
- Email:
- aaronhil@iastate.edu
- Phone:
- 515-294-6721
Aaron Hillmann spent nine seasons on the Iowa State football staff, including four as Director of Football Performance Operations. Â
Hillmann oversaw the Cyclones sports performance units, including strength and conditioning and nutrition.
Hillmann witnessed incredible improvement during his time in Ames. The Cyclones qualified for bowl games in eight of 10 seasons, regularly appeared in the national rankings and totaled eight of ISU’s nine above-.500 conference seasons in the history of the Big 12 Conference (1996-present) since 2017.
In his final season with the program, working alongside ISU's winningest coach Matt Campbell, the Cyclones went 8-4 overall with a win over No. 17 Kansas State in the season opener at the Aer Lingus College Football Classic in Dublin, Ireland. ISU had 14 players recognized on the postseason All-Big 12 teams, including three each on the second and third teams. ISU climbed to as high as No. 12 in the AP Top 25 during the 2025 season.
Iowa State recorded the best season in school history in 2024, posting an 11-3 record, the first double-digit victory season in 133 years of football at the school. The Cyclones reached the Big 12 Championship game for the second time and defeated No. 15 Miami to win the Pop-Tarts Bowl. ISU finished the season ranked No. 15, the second-best ranking to end a season in school history.
The 2020 season was historic in many ways. Iowa State finished the regular season in first place in the Big 12 standings, made the Big 12 Championship game and qualified for a New Year’s Six bowl for the first time in school history.
The Cyclones capped off the season with a 34-17 win over Oregon in the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl.
The Cyclones earned their highest ranking in school history during the season (#6) and postseason (#9).
Hillmann was the head strength and conditioning coach for the Illinois football program from 2012-15. He was hired in January 2012 as a member of Tim Beckman’s first coaching staff with the Illini.
Hillmann was named a master strength and conditioning coach in 2013 by the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association (CSCCA), the profession’s highest honor.
Prior to his time at Illinois, Hillmann worked with the Michigan football program after spending nine seasons as the head strength and conditioning coach at Bowling Green where he oversaw all 18 sports.
Hillmann also served as an assistant strength and conditioning coach at Notre Dame (1998-2001), Connecticut (1996-98), Cincinnati (1995-96) and Ball State (1992-95).
A native of St. Louis, Mo., Hillmann graduated from Missouri in 1991. He and his wife, Dina, have two sons, Jacob and Jonah, and a daughter, Skylar. Jacob was a member of the Cyclone football team.
TJ Otzelberger 12_19_25 interview
Friday, December 19
Jimmy Rogers Introductory Press Conference
Monday, December 08
Cyclone Express ISU at Oklahoma St 2025
Wednesday, December 03
Matt Campbell Signing Day Press Conference (2026 Class)
Wednesday, December 03
