Top 5 Notre Dame defensive coordinator candidates for 2025

Jon Heacock

Heacock, 64, could bring a vast amount of experience to Notre Dame, and he has a prior relationship with Marcus Freeman as the two coached together at Purdue. After Freeman was hired as head coach in South Bend, Heacock was one of his top defensive coordinator targets before Al Golden eventually got the job. Heacock has spent over four decades coaching at the collegiate level, highlighted by Big Ten stops at Michigan, Ohio State and Purdue. Heacock also spent several years at Youngstown State and was the Penguins’ head coach from 2001-09. Since 2016, Heacock has served as defensive coordinator at Iowa State, producing several All-Americans as a multi-time Broyles Award nominee. Other candidates may have higher upside, but Heacock could help maintain the current level of Notre Dame’s defense.