INDIANAPOLIS - Head Coach Kevin Lynch has announced the hiring of Jared Heck as the Butler defensive coordinator heading into the 2026 season. A native of Pittsburgh, Pa., Heck brings a wealth of defensive expertise and a proven track record of developing elite secondary units to the Bulldogs' sideline.

"I'm excited to announce Jared as our new defensive coordinator. It's truly great to reunite with him and welcome him to Butler," said Head Coach Kevin Lynch. "Jared will be a tremendous addition to our staff and will represent the Butler Way with pride and integrity. He brings a strong track record of building outstanding defenses and has proven himself as an exceptional leader. I'm confident he will make a lasting impact by developing our players both on and off the field."

Before arriving at Butler, Heck served a significant tenure at Westminster College, where he rose to the position of Associate Head Coach and Defensive & Special Teams Coordinator. Under his leadership, the Westminster defense consistently ranked as one of the top units in the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC). He was recognized for his work with defensive backs, having coached the 2017 PAC Defensive Player of the Year. His coaching journey also includes a stint at the Division I level, where he served as a defensive graduate assistant at Ball State University in 2018 where Coach Lynch was also on staff at the time. 

As a student-athlete, Heck was a standout two-sport star at Westminster College. On the football field, he was a four-year letterman and a three-year starter at cornerback and safety. During his senior campaign, he served as team captain and was named Team MVP after ranking third in the conference with five interceptions. His athletic versatility extended to the baseball diamond, where he also served as a team captain and ranked among the league leaders in stolen bases.

A graduate of Westminster with a degree in Mathematics, Heck was honored with the David B. Fawcett Award, recognizing his leadership, sportsmanship, and competitiveness. He also served as the treasurer of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) for two years. Heck now brings his analytical approach and championship-level experience to Indianapolis to lead the Butler defense into the 2026 season.