Jon Heacock, Matt Campbell's longtime defensive coordinator, is retiring, and won't be taking the same job at Penn State

New Penn State coach Matt Campbell is bringing many of his former Iowa State staff members to State College. Jon Heacock will not be one of them. Heacock, a 65-year-old Beloit, Ohio, native who has served as the defensive coordinator under Campbell at Toledo since 2014, is retiring, he announced on Tuesday. A multi-time finalist for the Bryoles Award, which honors college football’s top assistant coach, has spent 43 seasons on the sidelines.

“Well, it’s the right time for this coach to hang up his whistle … 43 years,” Heacock wrote on Twitter. “I’m so thankful, grateful, and blessed to have worked alongside some of the finest players, support staff members, and coaches in America! 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!

“Always remember who you are, the name on the front of your jersey and the name on the back. 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. Appreciate and love you all. Coach.”

It is not immediately clear how many targets Campbell has for his first defensive coordinator hire at Penn State. 247Sports and On3’s Pete Nakos reported last week that interest existed in Lions letterman and current USC defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn. And obviously Heacock was a possibility until he retired. Thus, the search for Jim Knowles’ replacement continues.

Meet Matt Campbell’s first Penn State staff so far

Right now, it appears that only a running backs coach and defensive coordinator are needed. But, it is not yet official that the Lions will retain letterman Deion Barnes and Dan Connor to coach the defensive line and linebackers, respectively. So, that will be the next thing to watch.

Here is a look at Campbell’s official/expected first staff:

Coaches

Taylor Mouser – offensive coordinator/tight ends coach – official

Ryan Clanton – offensive line coach – official

Deon Broomfield – secondary – official

Terry Smith – associate head coach, position TBD – official

Noah Pauley – wide receivers coach – official

Jake Waters – quarterbacks coach – official

Dan Connor – linebackers (reported by BWI’s Nate Bauer and expected but not yet official)

Deion Barnes – defensive line (reported by BWI’s Nate Bauer and expected but not yet official)

Off-field staff and analysts

Greg Brabenec – Chief of Staff – official

Aaron Hillmann – Director of Sports Performance Operations – official

Reid Kagy – Head Strength and Conditioning Coach – official

Brandon Pietrzyk – Assistant strength and conditioning coach – official

Recruiting and NIL staff

Derek Hoodjer – General manager – official

Jack Griffith – Assistant general manager – official

Trent Slattenow – Director of Scouting – official