Todd McShay said it early on in the Miami-Florida matchup on X: "Corey Heatherman is one of my new favorite coaches in CFB. Perfect fit in Miami." The last name was misspelled, but it's the thought that counts. It's Corey Hetherman, and Miami's early-season identity on defense looks like it has given them the ability to be a true CFP team.
Corey Heatherman is one of my new favorite coaches in CFB. Perfect fit in Miami.
— Todd McShay (@McShay13) September 20, 2025
How Corey Hetherman got to Miami
Hetherman's coaching map runs from small-college New England to Europe to elite FCS powers — and now the ACC. He started as a quarterbacks coach at Fitchburg State, then called offenses abroad for the Carinthian Black Lions and Wurzburg Panthers before settling into defense stateside. He worked through stops that included Northeastern, Western New England, Old Dominion, and a 2014 DC year at Pace. He then coordinated at Maine and James Madison, coached linebackers at Rutgers, took the defensive coordinator job at Minnesota in 2024, and was hired by Miami as DC/linebackers coach in January 2025.
At James Madison, Hetherman's defenses finished top-10 nationally in both total and scoring defense in 2019–21, including an opener that led the FCS in total defense (270.2 YPG) and ranked third in scoring defense (15.7 PPG). In 2021, he collected AFCA FCS Assistant Coach of the Year honors as JMU ranked No. 2 in total defense (199.4 YPG) and No. 9 in scoring defense (10.8 PPG). At Minnesota in 2024, the Gophers allowed 16.9 points per game (top-10 nationally) and just 285.7 yards per game (top-5).
The 2025 Miami defense under Corey Hetherman
Miami is 4–0 and the defense is way ahead of schedule. The Hurricanes are allowing 11.5 points per game and held Florida to 141 total yards and 0-for-13 on third down in a 26–7 win. Miami is top-15 nationally in yards allowed per game (top-15 nationally) and the third-down conversion rate is 24% (12-for-50) after the Florida game. Miami generated four sacks and seven TFLs against the Gators and held quarterback DJ Lagway to 2.7 yards per attempt. The front, built around Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor had set the tone.
Bain and Mesidor: the best EDGE duo in the nation
Bain has looked like the best player on the field for long stretches. So far this season, Bain has 22 total tackles with 2.0 sacks, plus a forced fumble and an interception. Mesidor has 2.5 sacks already and 17 total tackles. The sixth-year vet is putting in work and both players have made sure that the defensive unit is not going to be the liability.
2024 Miami compared to 2025 Miami
Miami's 2024 season ended 10–2 before the postseason, and the wins came in spite of the defense. Opponents scored 287 points in 12 games (23.9 PPG) and totaled 3,838 yards (319.8 YPG) before the bowl window. The run defense allowed 1,321 rush yards (110.1 YPG), while the pass defense yielded 2,517 yards (209.8 YPG). The numbers might not be eye-poppingly bad, but if you watched last season, it was the Cam Ward show and consistent dissapointment from the other side of the ball. The 2025 unit is clearly better in points, yards per game, and situational downs.
What's next?
Hetherman's defenses travel and a 4–0 start has pushed Miami into the No. 2 position in the AP Poll. If Miami makes noise in the playoff this season then Hetherman will be one of the favorite coaches for a lot of people — not just McShay.