The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are in need of a new defensive coordinator after the sudden departure of Mike Elko to the Texas A&M Aggies. It's been a fairly quiet search so far from Notre Dame, but a name has finally emerged as a real candidate for the vacant coaching position.

Jon Heacock, the defensive coordinator for the Iowa State Cyclones for the past two season, is the first real name to be leaked out from Notre Dame's side.

Heacock is a midwest guy with midwest roots.

• 1991-1996 Youngstown State Penguins DB / DC
• 1997-1999 Indiana Hoosiers DC
• 2000 Youngstown State Penguins DC
• 2001-2009 Youngstown State HC
• 2010-2012 Kent State Golden Flashes DB / DC
• 2013 Purdue Boilermakers DB
• 2014-2015 Toledo Rockets AHC / DB / DC
• 2016-2017 Iowa State Cyclones DC

What Heacock has done under Matt Campbell is impressive. In an offense driven conference, the Cyclones finished #26 (20.9 ppg) in the country in scoring defense, with major wins over the Oklahoma Sooners and TCU Horned Frogs.

Heacock's defensive back experience (he coaches safeties at ISU) , and his scheme of a multiple 4-2-5 defense, he is an attractive option for the Fighting Irish.

There are no timetables set here, and with the long process Notre Dame goes through in hiring coaches, it may be a few weeks still before an official hire is made to whatever coach they extend an offer to.

Heacock isn't the sexiest name out there, but given what he was able to accomplish at Iowa State this year with their talent pool, he would very much be a Mike Elko-like hire.

Once other names begin to surface, we will let y'all know!

UPDATE

It was reported that Clark Lea will be Notre Dame's new defensive coordinator about 5 minutes before this story was published.