DCC: John Heacock
If the other rumors aren’t true, Iowa State’s DC John Heacock would be a home run:
- Big Ten experience
- Midwest connections and recruiting experience (entire career has been in the midwest including Big 10 and MAC before Iowa)
- The most innovative DC in college football (based on Eleven Warriors, MGoBlog, and 247 articles) with an unique scheme for the crazy air-raid/spread Big12.
- Held Oklahoma to its two lowest scores this year at 27 and 30 points. 12th in 2020 FEI while in the BIG12.
- As DC at Iowa State he may a big part the reason for Campbell’s success. Hire the DC instead of the HC.
Can he be hired? It would be tough.
He has been under the same HC for a long time. That could be good or bad. If he thinks he can stop Ohio State’s offense and make a move to the next level with a major program he might jump at the chance.
Grew up in Ohio. Career included stops in Ohio, Indiana, and Michigan. Iowa was supposedly a tough move away.
And then he has a Michigan connection. He was a GA under Bo for two years for two Big 10 titles and a Rose Bowl victory. So he’s not only the best hire combining experience, success, and innovation against the spread, he also a Michigan guy. Don’t hold that last part against him.
247 Article:
#typed on my iPhone
December 26th, 2020 at 7:49 PM ^
Pass.
December 26th, 2020 at 10:00 PM ^
You lack an appreciation for facts and details.
“A New Kind of Hybrid Defender Has Emerged in The Big 12 and The Rest Of The Nation Should Take Notice”
“How Iowa State Became CFB’s Leader for Defense Innovation”
From Seth: “Neck Sharpies: The Soup Defense”
December 26th, 2020 at 7:49 PM ^
How about we bring in Matt Campbell and he brings Heacock with him
December 26th, 2020 at 8:29 PM ^
Yes. Yes. Yes.
December 26th, 2020 at 8:47 PM ^
That I would be onboard with.
December 26th, 2020 at 10:25 PM ^
Send quick memo to Harbaugh that he can stay in SoCal, no need to return to A2
December 26th, 2020 at 10:26 PM ^
No Cock or Campbell. Michigan needs home run hires, not duds. Please no connection to Bo or Mo or Joe
December 27th, 2020 at 2:49 PM ^
Oh god. And who exactly is a homerun?
December 31st, 2020 at 11:23 AM ^
I'm pickin' up what you're puttin' down
December 26th, 2020 at 7:49 PM ^
Wilford Mustardchamp is the derpfensive coooooooooordingnater
December 26th, 2020 at 7:54 PM ^
The next hire will be inspiring, come here, and proceed to lose to OSU by 50 for the next five years. So it is written, so it shall be done.
December 26th, 2020 at 8:02 PM ^
I’m sure Harbaugh has a good pitch:
”All I ask is you hold every opponent to 14 points or less. Our offense will handle the rest.”
December 26th, 2020 at 9:55 PM ^
That also sounds like Sheila Ford Hamp's pitch!
December 26th, 2020 at 8:07 PM ^
Serious question, would Wisconsin run for 400 yards vs this guys defense? Also osu is more of a running team sooo... 400 yards for them too?
December 27th, 2020 at 4:28 AM ^
That really is the problem, isn't it? In the Big 12 you don't start by stopping the run. But to win the Big 10 you have to. OSU may take the top off from time to time, but their running game sets that up and grinds you down. I have way too many nightmares of Wisconsin and RichRod to be thinking about some innovative spread D with 10 DB's. The next DC must be able to recruit, develop and deploy D-lines like the 16' version. The rest is just gravy.
December 26th, 2020 at 8:23 PM ^
John Heacock? It’s Herbie Heacock.
December 26th, 2020 at 8:36 PM ^
Or Wild John Heacock.
I don't like the idea of Muschamp, he doesn't inspire a lot of confidence in me.
December 27th, 2020 at 6:32 PM ^
Last time he was an elite DC was before college football evolved to the current systems.
December 26th, 2020 at 8:27 PM ^
“John Footpenis?”
”It’s Hancock now”
”Why?”
”NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS THAT’S WHY!”
December 26th, 2020 at 8:27 PM ^
If he’s an option, he should be near the top of the list. But I’m concerned he’s hoping to get the ISU job when Campbell leaves.
December 26th, 2020 at 8:30 PM ^
This is actually an interesting one...
Think his brother was Jim Heacock who was the Def. Coordinator at OSU for Tressel after Dantonio left. So good pedigree...
Last year his defense at ISU:
NCAA STATS (ISU played 11 games):
-Rush Defense----#10 in the country (104.6 YPG)
-Pass Eff. Defense-----#59 (133.84 YPG)
-Total Defense---#29 (343 YPG)
Not saying he should get it, but when you consider all the factors, I would hope Warde would at least interview him.
Hell, he can't be making much at ISU. (EDIT: He made $850,000 in 2019, but took a pay cut for Corona this year).
December 27th, 2020 at 2:25 AM ^
Jim Heacock, now that's a name I haven't heard in a while. Fantastic defensive mind that coached and helped mold now-UC head coach Luke Fickell.
I remembered towards the latter years of Jim Heacock's career, both Tressel and him were unrestrained in their praise of Luke Fickell, and how he was a rising star among defensive football minds.
I believe the younger Jon Heacock was also Jim Tressel's DC at Youngstown before Tressel left for Ohio State.
December 27th, 2020 at 10:57 AM ^
The head coach does staff interviews and hiring, not the AD.
December 26th, 2020 at 8:56 PM ^
Great. Big name hire. NOT!!!
December 26th, 2020 at 9:55 PM ^
I wouldn't care if he's the DC at Podunk Polytech if he can give us a good D. Quit worrying about the name.
December 27th, 2020 at 2:53 AM ^
Hey, don't sleep on the Podunk Polytech D. The Fightin' Techsters were lights out this year.
December 26th, 2020 at 10:11 PM ^
Well, then, he must not be any good. I mean, if some no-name rando on a blog hasn't heard of him, he can't be any good! Thanks for your insight, rando!
December 26th, 2020 at 8:58 PM ^
Why would any Defensive coordinator want to come here and coach under Harbaugh? Don Brown couldn’t stop OSU and just got ran out of town after fielding great teams for his first few years (and getting stomped by OSU). Harbaugh doesn’t even appear to be all in.
Michigan is where coordinators go to die. Why make a name for yourself in arguably the hardest division in college football? If Harbaugh does stick around (which I don’t think he will), then he’s going to have to find a guy rebounding like Muschamp and not an up and comer coordinator.
Look what’s happened to Gattis... guy can recruit and I think he’s a great coach but without a qb he looked average at best. It’s an all new staff or recycled old name with lots of baggage.
December 27th, 2020 at 8:47 AM ^
>Why would any Defensive coordinator want to come here and coach under Harbaugh?
So you want us to just not try to hire anybody? I don't understand your point.
December 26th, 2020 at 9:16 PM ^
Heacock isn’t going to unhook from Campbell for the instability at Michigan. He’s got it made right now and can just go along for the ride with him as I don’t think he has HC aspirations anymore.
December 26th, 2020 at 9:58 PM ^
Why wouldn't he? DC at Michigan is a step up from ISU and is the next step to being a head coach. Plus... Iowa vs AA.
December 26th, 2020 at 10:36 PM ^
The guy is 60, not sure he has any aspirations to be a head coach at this point.
December 27th, 2020 at 2:30 AM ^
Jon Heacock was Jim Tressel's DC at Youngstown State University, and took over the D1-AA/FCS powerhouse as Head Coach after Tressel left for Ohio State.
Heacock resigned as a HC after 9 seasons, and has been a Defensive Coordinator ever since then, so I doubt he'd want to make the jump back to a HC at 60 years old.
December 27th, 2020 at 9:44 AM ^
The only reason an older guy is going to come here is because of a big, final payday. What are the odds of JH being here in a few years?
December 26th, 2020 at 9:34 PM ^
Who?
Did you say Jud Heathcote?
.
I guess it's time to get some new batteries in the hearing aid...
(edit) ...and some new reading glasses.
December 26th, 2020 at 10:21 PM ^
Great, have him bring Matt Campbell with him though.
December 26th, 2020 at 10:59 PM ^
Loved Seth's write-up on this defense.
December 26th, 2020 at 11:11 PM ^
Just bring in the,”Steel Curtain!”
December 27th, 2020 at 8:25 AM ^
stop. i’m begging you.
December 27th, 2020 at 9:33 AM ^
I for one think it would be a great idea. Like all the other candidates he has just the right credentials for us to cherry pick his career, and a similar chance to have let downs, for 1/3 of us to love him and 2/3 of us to hate him. This will allow us to continue rooting for our true love, BPONE.
December 27th, 2020 at 2:54 PM ^
Not worth it's own thread and SIAP but it was mentioned on the FOX pregame show that at least one NFL team had reached out to the 49ers to discuss what JH was like as a HC.
December 27th, 2020 at 5:04 PM ^
His father Jim, has been a assistant coach @ OSU under multiple HC’s. Earl Bruce, Jim Tressel and has been in Meyer’s support staff. Have no idea how good or bad he’s been.
December 27th, 2020 at 8:00 PM ^
His brother Jim*
The Heacock brothers (Jeff, Jim and Jon) are all deeply rooted in Ohio football culture.
- Jeff Heacock was the HC for D-III Muskingum University for years, and coached his two younger brother there.
- Jim Heacock worked his way up the Midwest coaching ranks as a D-Line coach until eventually settling into a 15-year tenure as Ohio State's DL/DC.
- Jon Heacock similarly has bounced around defensive staffs in the Midwest, but was most notably Jim Tressel's DC at Youngstown during their dominate D-IAA/FCS run of 5/6 National Championship appearances.