Miami Hurricanes have hired their new defensive coordinator. What to know

Mario Cristobal has found his new defensive coordinator.

The Miami Hurricanes on Sunday formally named Corey Hetherman to the position. He replaces Lance Guidry, who Miami fired in December after two seasons.

Hetherman just finished his first season as Minnesota’s defensive coordinator and fielded one of the nation’s top defenses in the process. The Golden Gophers ranked in the top 10 nationally in total defense (285.7 yards per game, fifth), passing defense (176.1 yards per game, tied for ninth) and scoring defense (16.9 points per game, ninth). Minnesota also held opponents to just a 41.2-percent success rate on fourth down — 15th best in the nation — and gave up fewer than 20 points in eight of 13 games.

All were massive improvements over Minnesota’s production the year before he took over — 368.4 yards allowed per game (56th nationally), 219.3 passing yards allowed per game (59th nationally) and 26.7 points allowed per game (tied for 69th nationally).

Minnesota last season also allowed just 36 plays that went for at least 20 yards, the fourth-fewest in the country, and only gave up touchdowns on 50 percent of drives that went into the red zone, the 16th-best mark nationally.

According to the Pioneer Press, Hetherman had signed an extension to stay at Minnesota that would have paid him more than $1 million per year and Miami will pay his six-figure buy-out.

Prior to joining Minnesota’s staff, Hetherman spent two seasons as Rutgers’ linebackers coach, where he was on Greg Schiano’s staff. It’s worth noting that Cristobal is also part of the Schiano coaching tree, having begun his coaching career with a three-season run at Rutgers from 2001-2003 during Schiano’s first stint as the Scarlett Knights’ head coach.

Hetherman also spent three seasons each as defensive coordinator at James Madison (2019-2021) and Maine (2016-2018), both at the FCS-level when he coached there, before heading to Minnesota. He was the FCS assistant coach of the year in his final season at James Madison.

Hetherman will take over a defense that was Miami’s Achilles’ heel during its 10-3 season and will have plenty of turnover heading into 2025.

The Hurricanes ranked 68th nationally in scoring defense, allowing 25.3 points per game — a number that ballooned to 30.8 points per game in conference play. In Guidry’s first season as defensive coordinator, Miami allowed an average of 22.8 points per game but only gave up more than 40 points in a game once compared to three times this season.

Miami ended the season losing three of its final four games after a 9-0 start, including giving up 42 points apiece in its final two games to Syracuse and Iowa State, which averaged 34.1 and 31.1 points per game respectively. Miami led 21-0 in the second quarter of the Syracuse game and 38-28 midway through the third quarter of the Iowa State game before eventually losing both contests.

UM also lost 28-23 to a one-dimensional Georgia Tech team that ran for 271 yards — the most Miami has allowed in a game since giving up a school-record 554 rushing yards on Dec. 12, 2020.

The Hurricanes’ defense returns its share of talent — namely defensive linemen Rueben Bain and Akheem Mesidor, linebacker Wesley Bissainthe and cornerback OJ Frederique. Miami has also bolstered key spots in the transfer portal with the additions of cornerbacks Charles Brantley, Emmanuel Karnley and Ethan O’Connor; safety Zechariah Poyser; and defensive tackle David Blay.

A few other players, notably freshman safety Zaquan Patterson, defensive tackle Ahmad Moten, and linebackers Jaylin Alderman, Raul Aguirre and Bobby Pruitt flashed at times during the season.

Cornerback Damari Brown and Jadais Richard — both of whom missed extended time with injury — should play a role in the defense next season as well.

Hetherman’s hire will be the first of several Miami has to make on the defensive coaching staff. Defensive line coach Joe Salave’a left UM to take the same position at Arizona, his alma mater, and cornerbacks coach Chevis Jackson is being targeted for a position on Wake Forest’s staff, according to 247Sports.