Register staff report | Des Moines Register

Iowa State football defensive coordinator Jon Heacock announced his retirement from coaching on Dec. 23.

“It’s the right time for this coach to hang up his whistle … 43 years,” Heacock wrote on Twitter/X.

Heacock just finished his 10th season with the Cyclones, earning well-deserved praise as one of the finest defensive coordinators in the nation. Heacock was named a finalist for the Broyles Award (nation’s top assistant coach) in 2017 and was again a nominee for the award in 2022, 2023 and 2024.

On3.com reported on Dec. 7 that Heacock would join former Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell at Penn State, but Heacock has opted to retire instead.

“I’m certainly thankful and grateful that God chose me to be the offensive coordinator at Iowa State …” Heacock wrote on social media. “Man, we all did some special stuff together. Thanks to you all!”

Washington State’s Jimmy Rogers was hired as the Cyclones’ new head coach after Campbell’s departure. He is bringing Jesse Bobbit to Ames with him to serve as the team’s new defensive coordinator.

Heacock’s defense ranked 26th in the country among FBS teams this season, allowing 20.17 points per game.

Iowa State has ranked second (20.9, 2017), first (22.9, 2018), third (25.9, 2019), second (21.4, 2020), third (20.5, 2021), first (20.2, 2022) and third (22.8, 2023) in the Big 12 in scoring defense during Heacock’s tenure, all totals among the Top 50 nationally. The 2024 and 2025 Cyclones ranked fifth in the Big 12 in scoring defense.

The Campbell-Heacock pairing elevated Iowa State to unprecedented success. Campbell became the Cyclones’ career wins leader (72-55 overall record), in large part because of Heacock’s dazzling defenses. Iowa State qualified for a bowl game eight times in 10 years under Campbell, though the team opted to forego the postseason this year after Campbell’s departure.

The 2024 team enjoyed the greatest season in Iowa State history, finishing with an 11-3 record, a Big 12 Championship Game appearance and a victory over Miami in the Pop-Tarts Bowl. The Cyclone defense had seven players earn All-Big 12 recognition that season and allowed just 22.9 points per game, the eighth-straight season yielding less than 26.0 points per game. The 2024 Cyclones led the nation in passing defense, allowing 165.6 yards per game and intercepting 15 passes.

The 2022 defensive unit was perhaps Heacock’s best, leading the Big 12 in scoring defense, total defense, rushing defense (107.3) and passing defense (178.2).

“Always remember who you are, the name on the front of your jersey and the name on the back,” Heacock wrote in his retirement announcement. “If you have an opportunity to worship some way … do it. And always tell the people you love the most that you love them; there are no guarantees.”

A native of Beloit, Ohio, Heacock began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Toledo in 1983. He worked under the legendary Bo Schembechler at Michigan (1988-89).

He was head coach at Youngstown State from 2001-09, reaching the FCS semifinals in 2006. He worked under Campbell for two seasons at Toledo before they moved to Iowa State.

Iowa State sports information contributed to this report.