The Broyles Award, honoring the top assistant coach in college football, named Miami defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman as a finalist on Wednesday. Hetherman has led a complete turnaround for the Miami defense in 2025.
Miami is playing a more aggressive style defensively under Hetherman. The Hurricanes are fifth nationally, allowing 13.8 points per game, 11th permitting 277.8 total yards per game, seventh holding opponents to 86.83 rushing YPG and 30th holding the opposition to 190.9 passing YPG.
The more aggressive defense showed up as Miami is 22nd, averaging 6.58 tackles for loss per game and 17th with 2.83 sacks per game. Miami was 24th, producing 20 turnovers with 12 interceptions and eight fumble recoveries this season.
Defensive linemen Rueben Bain and Akheem Mesidor earned first-team All-ACC, DL Ahmad Moten Sr. and defensive backs Keionte Scott and Jakobe Thomas earned second-team all-conference and linebacker Wesley Bissainthe was named to the third-team.
🚨WE’VE GOT A BROYLES AWARD FINALIST OVER HERE 🚨
— Miami Hurricanes (@MiamiHurricanes) December 10, 2025
Canes Fam, vote for @cjhetherman as the nation’s TOP assistant coach.
Vote once every 24 hours 🙌 https://t.co/6p36fdl8Kr pic.twitter.com/DorsiLKP1f
Defensive backs Zechariah Poyser and Damari Brown, DL David Blay Jr and LB Mohammad Toure were named honorable mention All-ACC as Miami fielded nearly an entire defense of players who earned All-Conference honors under Hetherman.
Miami held eight opponents under 100 yards rushing, six to 10 points or less and under 200 yards passing and four under 200 total yards. A season after its inconsistent defense likely kept Miami out of the College Football Playoff, that unit was the Hurricanes' strength in 2025.
Hetherman led the Miami defense in his second season as a Football Bowl Subdivision and Power Four defensive coordinator. Georgia offensive coordinator Mike Bobo, Indiana DC Bryant Haines, Ohio State DC Matt Patricia of Ohio State and Texas Tech DC Shiel Woods are the other Broyles Award finalists.
Randy Shanon is the only Broyles Award recipient from Miami. Shannon was named the winner of the Broyles award as the Miami defensive coordinator of the 12-0 national championship team after the 2001 season.