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Longtime Iowa State defensive coordinator Jon Heacock to retire
The longtime Cyclones defensive coordinator helped Iowa State lead the Big 12 in scoring defense twice and rank among the nation’s stingiest units during his decade in Ames.
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Jon Heacock, who built Iowa State’s defense into one of the stingiest in the country, is retiring.
The veteran defensive coordinator helped the Cyclones lead the Big 12 in scoring defense in 2018 and 2022, and consistently ranked among the top 30 nationally in that area.
"I'm so thankful, grateful and blessed to have worked alongside some of the finest players, support staff members and coaches in America," Heacock said in an X post Tuesday announcing his retirement. "I'm certainly thankful and grateful that God chose me to be the defensive coordinator at lowa State University for 10 years. Ames, lowa State, the team, and Cyclone Nation: Man, we all did some special stuff together!
Heacock, a Beloit, Ohio native, began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Toledo in 1983. It included time on Bo Schembechler's staff at Michigan (1988-89), while he also worked alongside Jim Tressel.
He was head coach at Youngstown State from 2001-09, reaching the FCS Semifinal in 2006. At Youngstown, he was two-time Gateway Conference Coach of the Year (2005-06) and ended his tenure with a 60-44 record.
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