Jon Heacock and Matt Campbell linked up in Campbell’s penultimate season at Toledo in 2014, and the two have been inseparable since. Heacock, a four-time Broyles Award nominee and one-time finalist, served as Campbell’s defensive coordinator for his final two years at Toledo and all 10 seasons at Iowa State.
In the wake of Campbell's hiring, it was reported that Heacock intended to join Campbell at Penn State, with the assumption being that the 65-year-old would remain his defensive coordinator in Happy Valley. The departure of Penn State DC Jim Knowles for Tennessee seemed to confirm that expectation. However, Heacock announced on Tuesday morning that, “it’s the right time for this coach to hang up his whistle.”
Jon Heacock, who was Matt Campbell’s defensive coordinator at Iowa State the last 10 years, is retiring pic.twitter.com/KvnLNBk9V7
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) December 23, 2025
Jon Heacock announces retirement after 12 seasons as Matt Campbell’s DC
With Knowles gone and Heacock heading into retirement after a 43-year coaching career, Campbell must hire a new DC for the first time since 2014, when to plucked Heacock, then a defensive backs coach, off Purdue’s staff.
USC defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn has been rumored to be a top candidate for the job. Lynn has spent the last two seasons with Lincoln Riley after the Trojans hired him away from USC.
While USC is a powerhouse program with the resources to land the No. 1 recruiting class in the 2026 cycle, Penn State has proven it has the might to make just about any coordinator hire it wants. Last season, coming of a national championship with the Buckeyes, Penn State handed Knowles a three-year, $9 million contract, making him the highest paid DC in the sport.
Heacock’s retirement also brings into question what defensive scheme Penn State will be running under Campbell. With Heacock, Iowa State ran a 3-3-5 structure, but the Nittany Lions have historically dominated with a four-down defensive front.
Campbell largely imported his Iowa State staff to Happy Valley, including offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser, but with Heacock calling it a career, the new Penn State coach will be forced to make the first high-profile decision of his brief tenure in Happy Valley.