Jon Heacock Retires From Coaching

AMES, Iowa – After more than 40 seasons spent at the collegiate level, former Iowa State defensive coordinator Jon Heacock has announced his retirement from coaching.

Heacock, who helped turn the Iowa State defense into one of the nation's very best and most respected units, was a finalist for the Broyles Award in 2017 and was again a nominee from 2022-25.

Heacock's coaching career spanned time as both a college and high school coach. He spent the last 12 seasons on Matt Campbell's coaching staff at Toledo and Iowa State, including the last 10 seasons leading a Cyclone defense that went from the bottom of the Big 12 prior to his arrival to annually one of the league's stingiest units.

Having been a part of 72 Cyclone victories, no other coordinator in school history seen ISU win more games during their tenure. He joined the school in 2016 alongside Campbell and the defensive players he has coached at Iowa State have been recognized by the Big 12 Conference a total of 80 times, earning either first- or second-team honors on 28 occasions.

"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 announcing his retirement. "I'm certainly thankful and grateful that God chose me to be the defensive coordinator at Iowa State University for 10 years. Ames, Iowa State, the team, and Cyclone Nation: Man, we all did some special stuff together! Thanks to you all!"

Heacock's nationally-recognized 3-3-5 defense, implemented in 2017, altered the Big 12 Conference and has been imitated often in the college ranks. The Cyclone defense has frequently ranked among the Big 12's best under his leadership. In 10 seasons at ISU, his unit ranked among the league's top three in scoring defense seven times, while ranking among the top-three in total defense six times.

The 2018 and 2022 team's led the Big 12 in scoring defense. The latter became just the third team in Big 12 history to lead the league in scoring defense, total defense, rushing defense and passing defense.

Eight of his former Cyclone defensive players – Jamal Perry (CB), Willie Harvey (LB), Jake Hummel (LB), Anthony Johnson Jr. (DB), Will McDonald IV (DE), Enyi Uwazurike (DL), T.J. Tampa (DB), Darien Porter (DB) – played in the NFL. In 2023, McDonald became the school's second-ever first-round pick in the NFL Draft.

The Beloit, Ohio native's coaching career began 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 YSU, he was two-time Gateway Conference Coach of the Year (2005-06) and ended his tenure with a 60-44 overall record.

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— JON HEACOCK (@Coach_Heacock) December 23, 2025

Players Mentioned

Darien Porter

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