After 43 years in the coaching profession, Jon Heacock, Iowa State’s defensive coordinator, has decided to retire. Since taking over the role in 2016, Heacock has helped transform the Iowa State Cyclones into one of the most consistent defensive units in the Big 12 Conference. His long career now brings renewed focus on the family support that played a central role throughout his coaching journey.

Who is Jon Heacock?

Jon Heacock was born on October 11, 1960, in Beloit, Ohio, U.S. Before his coaching career, Heacock played college football at Muskingum College, where he also competed in track and field. He then started his coaching career in 1983 as a graduate assistant at the University of Toledo.

With stints at West Liberty University, Michigan, Youngstown State University, Indiana, and Kent State over the years, Heacock joined Iowa State in 2016 under head coach Matt Campbell as defensive coordinator and safeties coach. It was here that Heacock began making a wave with his defensive principles in the Big 12 conference.

After finishing the 2025 season with an 8-4 record and ranking 26th nationally in points against (20.2 per game), Heacock decided to finally retire, ending a rich 43 years of coaching and building a reputation as one of college football’s most experienced and respected defensive minds.

Who Is Jon Heacock’s Wife Trescia?

Throughout his coaching journey, Heacock was supported by his wife, Trescia Heacock. While details about how and where the couple met remain private, they married long before Heacock’s tenure at Iowa State. Trescia works as a registered nurse by profession.

In 2019, the couple celebrated at least 27 years of marriage, indicating they were married in 1992. As of 2025, they have been together for more than three decades. Together, Jon and Trescia have two children: a son named Jace and a daughter named Adelyn.

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Who are Jon Heacock’s Children?

Jace Heacock is the eldest child of Jon and Trescia Heacock. Like his father, he developed a passion for coaching and has worked extensively within the Iowa State football program. Jace has served in multiple roles on the Cyclones’ staff, including graduate assistant and director of football analytics. He worked with the Iowa State defense from 2016 to 2022 and returned to the staff in 2025 as director of football analytics.

Both Father and son worked closely together during Iowa State’s rise as a defensive power. From 2017 onward, the Cyclones ranked third or better in the Big 12 in scoring defense for six consecutive seasons.

Adelyn Heacock, the youngest member of the family, has largely remained out of the public spotlight. Aside from occasional mentions in team profiles, little information about her personal life is publicly available.

Behind the accolades stands a family that supported Jon Heacock through decades of coaching stops, long seasons, and the relentless demands of college football. Now retired, Heacock can finally step away from the sidelines and spend more time on his personal life, closing a remarkable chapter in the sport.