AMES (AP) - Iowa State athletic officials are pleased with the appointment last year of a pastor as a life skills assistant for the football team and intend to continue the volunteer position.

The appointment of Kevin Lykins, a Baptist pastor from Texas, as the team's life skills assistant prompted an emotional debate on campus. More than 100 faculty members signed a petition against the proposal, which many saw as infringing on the separation of church and state.

Football coach Gene Chizik first proposed appointing Lykins.

After a year, athletic director Jamie Pollard said the appointment has been welcomed by players. And an assessment by faculty athletics representative Paula Morrow came to the same conclusion.

"As far as the review process, everything is complete and found to be acceptable," Pollard said. "And we intend to continue to move forward."

Lykins has consistently declined interview requests by The Des Moines Register, and he did so again this week.

The Iowa Fellowship of Christian Athletes lists him as a staff member on its Web site.

"He was never going to be hired," Pollard said, "because we knew that we couldn't.

"We knew the core wasn't about religion. It was about providing a resource for these student athletes."