Iowa State DC Jon Heacock Retires After 40 Years

Ames, Iowa—Longtime Iowa State defensive coordinator Jon Heacock announced his retirement Tuesday after more than 40 years in college football, capping a career that transformed the Cyclones' defense into one of the Big 12's most formidable units.

Heacock, 65, had served as Iowa State's defensive coordinator for the past 10 seasons, working closely with former head coach Matt Campbell. The two collaborated for 12 years total, including two seasons at Toledo before moving to Ames in 2016. Campbell departed for Penn State earlier this month, but Heacock chose not to join him there, opting instead to end his coaching tenure. In a social media post, Heacock expressed deep appreciation for his time with the program. "I'm so thankful, grateful and blessed to have worked alongside some of the finest players, support staff members and coaches in America," he wrote. "Ames, Iowa State, the team, and Cyclone Nation—we all did some special stuff together. Thanks to you all!"

Heacock's tenure at Iowa State marked a defensive renaissance for the Cyclones. After a challenging first season, he and Campbell overhauled the scheme, introducing a 3-3-5 alignment in 2017 that emphasized tying up...