Cornerbacks coach Chevis Jackson was hired by former Miami Hurricanes defensive coordinator Lance Guidry. Jackson worked under Guidry during the 2022 season at Marshall. Matt Zenitz of 247Sports reported on Saturday that Wake Forest is pursuing Jackson as a defensive backs coach.
If Jackson is hired by Wake Forest it would give recently hired Miami DC Corey Hetherman the opportunity to bring in his own DB coach. Hetherman was the defensive coordinator and LBs coach at Minnesota in 2025. Miami LBs coach Derek Nicholson appears safe for now.
After a four-year career in the NFL with five teams, Jackson began his coaching career at South Alabama as a graduate assistant in 2013 and 2014. Jackson returned to his alma mater, LSU, also as a graduate assistant in 2015. Ball State hired Jackson for his first on-field coaching job as DB coach from 2016 through 2018.
Jackson earned his first on-field Power Five Conference position as the DBs coach at Kansas under Les Miles and then Lance Leibold from 2019 through 2021. After being let go at Kansas, Jackson was hired at Marshall under Guidry. Marshall had an elite pass defense in their first season with Jackson on the staff.
I don’t want to hate on Chevis because he wasn’t given the greatest situation at DB but I’m happy with this https://t.co/g8TalO0eXS
— Canes Edits🌴 (@Canes_Edits) January 11, 2025
Wake Forest is looking to poach Chevis Jackson away from the Miami Hurricanes
Marshall was 27th nationally allowing 201,5 passing yards per game, 12th permitting 6.2 yards per attempt, second with opponents committing only 51.5 percent of their pass attempts and third with a 104.67 opponent passer rating, sixth with 18 interceptions and eighth with only eight TDs passes against.
Those numbers fell significantly in 2023 in his final season with Marshall. Miami's inconsistency in the secondary was the primary reason Guidry was fired. Miami finished 57th in 2024 allowing 214.4 passing YPG, 50th with a 124.69 passer rating and 40th permitting a 124.69 passer rating.
The Miami secondary was burned too often for long completions and TDs in 2024. Miami finished 92nd allowing 22 TD passes in 2024 and 99th permitting 43 completions of 20 yards or more. Jackson considering Wake Forest could have Mario Cristobal quietly telling him to consider other opportunities.
Minnesota tied for first nationally in 2024 allowing 23 completions of 20 yards or more. The Golden Gophers were ninth allowing 176.1 passing YPG, seventh with a 110.84 passer rating against and 11 TD passes allowed, 13th with opponents averaging 6.1 YPA and 45th with a 59.0 completion percentage by opponents.
Nick Monroe was the co-defensive coordinator and DBs coach for Minnesota in 2024. With the co-DC tag it seems likely that he would stay on the Golden Gophers staff. With a short amount of time coaching at the Power Conference level, it's difficult to predict who Hetherman could bring in if Jackson leaves.