Mario Cristobal's most important addition during the 2025 offseason, Corey Hetherman, is seventh among, "College football's 10 best coordinator hires for 2025 season, ranked" in an article posted by Cody Nagel of 247Sports. Hetherman is part of a near-complete overhaul of the defensive coaching staff for the Miami Hurricanes.
Defensive line coach Jason Taylor is the only returning assistant coach for Miami on defense. Miami hired Damione Lewis to work with Taylor coaching the defensive line, Zac Etheridge to work with the cornerbacks and Will Harris as the new safeties coach. Hetherman will be the Miami defensive coordinator and linebackers coach.
Hetherman has quickly risen up the coaching ranks. In 12 years, Hetherman has gone from Division II to Miami. Hetherman did not start coaching in FBS until he was the LBs coach at Rutgers under one-time Miami defensive coordinator Greg Schiano in 2022-23. Minnesota was Hetherman's first coordinator job in 2024.
Hetherman quickly showed his ability to lead a defense in 2024. Minnesota was fifth nationally in 2024, allowing 285.7 total yards per game. That was a huge improvement after ranking 68th and allowing 368.4 total yards per game in 2024. Nagel compared Minnesota's 2024 defense, led by Hetherman, to Miami.
#NewProfilePic pic.twitter.com/277aeEha1s
— Corey Hetherman (@cjhetherman) January 14, 2025
"Corey Hetherman climbed the coaching ranks...excelled in his first FBS defensive coordinator job at Minnesota last season and is now tasked with improving a Miami unit that ranked 68th in points allowed per game (25.3). The Golden Gophers ranked ninth in that same category, holding opponents to 16.9 points per contest. It could be difficult to match that level of success in a new role, but Hetherman is up for the challenge."Cody Nagel, 247Sports
The biggest focus will be on improving the Miami pass defense. Miami was 55th nationally last season, allowing 216.0 passing yards per game. Miami's biggest flaw defensively in 2024 was finishing 99th nationally, allowing 43 completions of 20 or more yards.
Miami signed four of the top 11 transfer cornerbacks and the No. 2 ranked safety in the transfer portal, Zechariah Poyser. The new defensive hires led by Hetherman with the transfer additions are expected to significantly improve Miami defensively in 2025 with the goal of making another run towards a College Football Playoff berth.