New Miami Hurricanes defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman and secondary coach Zac Etheridge arrive at Miami with varying histories of success as recruiters. Hetherman has only coached in the Football Bowl Subdivision since 2022. Etheridge has been an FBS assistant since 2019.
Hetherman spent the first six years of his coaching career as an assistant in Division II and III before moving up to FCS in 2011. In 2012, Hetherman was hired by FCS Old Dominion. Other than the 2014 season at Division II Pace, Hetherman was an FCS assistant coach through 2018.
The first FBS job for Hetherman was as the linebackers coach at Rutgers in 2022 and 2023. Although Hetherman is not listed as the primary recruiter, Rutgers signed LB Abram Wright in the 2023 class, which was the first full recruiting cycle for Hetherman as an FBS assistant coach.
Hetherman's 247Sports recruiting page credits him with being the primary recruiter for 2025 Minnesota three-star LB signees David Amaliri, Rhett Hlavacka and Ethan Stendel. Minnesota also signed three-star LB Nathan Cleveland in the 2025 class. There is no primary recruiter listed for Cleveland.
Miami DC Corey Hetherman is on the road recruiting in the Tampa area alongside LB analyst Juan Navarro.
— Gaby Urrutia (@GabyUrrutia247) January 17, 2025
They popped in to Seffner (Fla.) Armwood to check in on Top247 CB Jaelen Waters, who visits this weekend. https://t.co/KSxKt7oaYB pic.twitter.com/i84bQmAs9m
Etheridge has a far more extensive list of signees he is credited with being the primary recruiter for. There are approximately 20 blue-chip signees where Etheridge is credited as the primary recruiter by 247Sports. The top-rated signee whom Etheridge is credited as being the primary recruiter for was four-star defensive lineman Keldric Faulk at Auburn.
Ten of the signees Etheridge is credited with being the primary recruiter for were outside of the secondary. Etheridge has proven the ability to build relationships at multiple positions and nationally. Cornerback Delonte Scott, who is originally from California, signed with Etheridge at Auburn from Snow College in Utah.
Scott went with Etheridge when he was hired by Houston from Auburn. Several of the players Etheridge was credited with being the primary recruiter for have gone on to have honored careers. Etheridge inherits 2024 freshmen All-American O.J. Frederique and Zechariah Poyser with Miami.
The influx of talent Miami signed in the 2025 class and through the transfer portal should upgrade the secondary for Miami. Expect Etheridge to continue leading Miami's quest to sign more talented defensive backs while he is on the Hurricanes' staff.