Photo courtesy of Iowa Central Athletics: Iowa Central Athletic Director Kevin Twait gives a pre-game speech to the Triton football team before the Game One Bowl in the UNI Dome earlier this month.

An emotional Kevin Twait confirmed on Tuesday that his 29-year professional career with Iowa Central Community College will be coming to an end this summer.

The school accepted Twait’s pending retirement paperwork at its December board meeting last night. Twait’s final day as the Iowa Central athletic director will be June 30.

“I have no reservations or regrets about the decision itself,” Twait said as his voice quivered, “but that doesn’t make this easy for me. Iowa Central is home. I bleed that Navy and White.

“The school has been so good to me, and so good to my family.”

Twait arrived on campus in February of 1996 to become the Tritons’ next head football coach. No one — including Twait himself — could have predicted the next three decades of growth and prosperity, as Iowa Central transitioned from a standard community college into an NJCAA powerhouse both on and off the playing fields and courts.

“It’s just such a credit to our administration and the people who have invested in Iowa Central through the years,” Twait commented with a trademark insistence on shifting the attention to others. “From (ICCC presidents) Dr. (Bob) Paxton to Dr. (Dan) Kinney and now with Dr. (Jesse) Ulrich, it all starts at the top with their willingness to respect your vision and support what it takes to get there.

“I had it as a football coach for 22 years here. I’ve had it since becoming athletic director (in 2018). This was a collective effort. I’ve never taken that for granted. There were other opportunities to go ‘bigger’ and ‘better,’ but we’ve always embraced what this area meant to us as a family and what we felt like it could be to our Triton coaches and athletes.”

Ulrich called Twait a “model athletic director” and a “true Iowa Central legend.”

“And it’s not just because of what he has accomplished,” Ulrich said. “Recognizing Kevin for the success on paper would be the easy part. That only tells a small portion of the story. He’s such a staunch supporter of our student-athletes, and he has always insisted they succeed in the classroom and get involved in the community as well.

“He’s leaving big shoes to fill. I think it’s very fitting that in these last two years, we’ve had a record number of student-athletes recognized as academic all-region. Half of the kids we have involved in our 33 programs have earned academic all-region honors. That’s an incredible statistic.”

Twait – a graduate of Emmetsburg High School, where he played for his Hall of Fame father, Duane – was 140-93 in his 22 seasons as the Triton football program’s head coach. Iowa Central qualified for 16 bowl games during his tenure, and the Tritons won 11.

Twait still ranks among the Top-25 coaches on the NJCAA’s all-time charts for career victories.

In the summer of 2018, Twait transitioned into his current role as athletic director.

“I didn’t know how it would go, to be honest, but I wanted to make sure above all else, I put the coaches and kids in a position to succeed,” Twait said. “That’s the way I was taught, so I wanted to pass those philosophies along. And winning wasn’t just about what happened in games or seasons. We wanted to make sure these kids learned and left Iowa Central as better students and better people.”

Twait was first eligible for retirement three years ago, but felt like he had “unfinished business” as the school worked to get its new outdoor athletic practice and training facility built.

“That’s really been a game-changer for us,” Twait said. “Not just with football, but rugby, soccer, track and field, and so many other functions. Our kids have benefited tremendously from it, and I wanted to see that through before I was done.”

Twait added “I’ve enjoyed every minute of my time” as the athletic director.

“From having the opportunity to hire my replacement, Coach (Jesse) Montalto (in football), through today, I’ve really tried to fully embrace this role,” Twait said. “I always thought that maybe I could help our programs see a bigger picture of what Iowa Central is all about.

“I still miss coaching, but being able to lead behind the scenes and help the students, coaches and programs grow and develop has truly been an honor. I love this place.”

Ulrich called Twait a “culture builder.”

“He’s one of a kind,” Ulrich said. “Always been about relationships. Treats people fairly and with respect. Has been loyal to our school and community for so long. We’ve been incredibly fortunate to have Kevin Twait on our side for nearly 30 years.

“Iowa Central is a better place because of him.”