Toledo Hires New Defensive Coordinator

Jon Heacock will take over a Toledo defense that ranked
74th in the nation last season.
Photo Credit: www.purduesports.com

After over a month of anxious anticipation, Toledo has finally found their next defensive coordinator. Matt Campbell and the Rockets announced on Saturday that Purdue defensive backs coach, Jon Heacock will become Toledo's new defensive coordinator. The 53-year old Heacock comes to Toledo to replace former defensive coordinator, Tom Matukewicz who left in December after accepting the head coaching job at FCS Southeast Missouri State.

Toledo head coach Matt Campbell was reportedly drawn to Heacock after his success as Kent State defensive coordinator from 2010-2012 under head coach Darrell Hazell. After a 2012 campaign in which Kent State won eleven games and made their first bowl game in forty years, Hazell accepted the head coaching job at Purdue and took Heacock with him as a defensive backs coach. In 2013, Purdue had a brutal year only going 1-11 overall and putting the Purdue coaching staff on the hot seat after just one season.

Heacock will take over a Toledo defensive which allowed 28.6 points per game last season which ranked 74th in the nation under defensive coordinator Tom Matukewicz. Prior to becoming the defensive coordinator at Kent State, Heacock placed nine years of head coaching experience on his resume as the head coach of Youngstown State at the FCS level. In 2006, Heacock led the Penguins to the FCS Semifinals after posting an 11-3 overall record. Heacock led Youngstown State to a 60-44 overall record in his nine seasons with the Penguins.

Heacock first entered coaching as a Toledo graduate assistant in 1983.