Miami is expected to promote Terry Jefferson to cornerbacks coach, offering Mario Cristobal an internal replacement for Zac Etheridge after Etheridge left for a job in the Arizona Cardinals' secondary.
Jefferson is set to move up after working as Miami's assistant defensive backs coach, defensive analyst and nickels coach last season.
Miami is expected to name Terry Jefferson as its new cornerbacks coach, sources tell me and @GabyUrrutia247.
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) May 6, 2026
Made an impact as an assistant DB coach/nickels coach for Miami last season. Now set to be Miami’s replacement for Zac Etheridge, who’s now with the Arizona Cardinals. https://t.co/kN8QsuhAkm pic.twitter.com/eRFJ8wCuaV
Terry Jefferson expected to replace Zac Etheridge on Miami staff
Jefferson is a Dade County native who played at Booker T. Washington before his college career at Florida A&M, where he was an All-American and first-team all-conference defensive back.
He had also been at Miami before last season, working with defensive backs, personnel and football operations during an earlier stint with the program. During that first Miami run, Jefferson worked with future NFL defensive backs Tyrique Stevenson, Kamren Kinchens, DJ Ivey and James Williams.
Before returning to Miami in 2025, Jefferson spent two seasons at Jacksonville State under Rich Rodriguez. The Gamecocks went 18-9 during that stretch and won a Conference USA title. In Jefferson's first season there, Jacksonville State finished with the top-ranked defense in Conference USA and ranked second in the conference in interceptions.
He also helped develop multiple defensive backs who earned all-conference honors or later transferred to Power Four programs, including Derek Carter, Geimere Latimer, Fred Davis and Jabari Mack. Zechariah Poyser also worked with Jefferson at Jacksonville State before transferring to Miami and becoming a starting safety for the Hurricanes.
Jefferson was responsible for Miami's nickel position last season, and Keionte Scott became one of the Hurricanes' most valuable defensive players in that role.Scott finished with 64 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, five sacks, two interceptions returned for TDs, two forced fumbles and five pass breakups. Scott became a fourth-round pick by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at No. 116 overall in the 2026 NFL draft.
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