Purdue safeties coach Jon Heacock will be the next University of Toledo defensive coordinator.

Heacock will also serve as UT's safeties coach.

Rockets coach Matt Campbell was drawn to Heacock because of his success at Kent State as the Golden Flashes' defensive coordinator under head coach Darrell Hazell. Kent won 11 games in 2012, earning a bowl game berth for the first time in 40 years.

Heacock followed Hazell to Purdue after the 2012 season.

Heacock has head coaching experience, spending nine seasons at Youngstown State where he was 60-44 and guided the Penguins to the 2006 national semifinals in the Football Championship Subdivision. Heacock won three national championships at YSU as an assistant coach.

In another coaching staff shake-up, special teams coach Stan Watson will transition to linebackers coach. Campbell has not decided whether Watson will retain his duties on special teams.

First Published January 25, 2014, 2:47 p.m.