The Miami Hurricanes have made a major change to their coaching staff heading into the 2025 season. Corey Hetherman, most recently the defensive coordinator at Minnesota, has resigned from his position with the Gophers to accept the same role at Miami. The hiring comes on the heels of the Hurricanes dismissing previous DC Lance Guidry after the team’s late-season defensive struggles dashed their hopes of reaching the ACC Championship Game and College Football Playoff.
Hetherman arrives in Coral Gables with an impressive track record. He oversaw a Minnesota defense that helped lead the team to an 8-5 record in 2024, including a dominant 24-10 victory over Virginia Tech in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl to cap off the campaign. The Golden Gophers ranked in the top half of the Big Ten in several key defensive categories under Hetherman’s guidance.
Hetherman’s Mission: Restore the Canes Defense
For Miami, the hope is that Hetherman can immediately shore up a defense that faltered down the stretch in 2024. After a strong start that had the Hurricanes in the CFP conversation, the unit regressed significantly in November. The low point came in a devastating 42-38 loss to Syracuse in the regular season finale, a game in which Miami surrendered a 21-0 lead with an ACC title game berth on the line.
The defensive woes continued in Miami’s 42-41 Pop-Tarts Bowl loss to Iowa State. Once again, the Hurricanes couldn’t protect a second-half advantage, allowing the Cyclones to storm back for a game-winning TD in the final minute. Three days after the defeat, head coach Mario Cristobal pulled the trigger and fired Guidry after his two seasons in Miami.
“In a continuous effort to always improve all aspects of our program, I have decided to make a change on defense. We will move forward and make decisions that provide our players, staff and program the best opportunity to win and develop at the highest level.”
– Mario Cristobal, Miami Head Coach
Big Aspirations, Big Challenges Ahead
Hetherman inherits a Miami squad with no shortage of talent, but also no shortage of pressure and expectations. The Hurricanes have designs on not only returning to the ACC title game, but finally breaking through and securing a coveted CFP berth. To get there, Hetherman will need to quickly implement his scheme and have his charges ready for a massive season-opening challenge.
The 2025 campaign begins with a bang, as the Canes welcome Notre Dame to Hard Rock Stadium on Labor Day weekend. The Fighting Irish, fresh off a national runner-up finish this season, will provide an immediate measuring stick for Hetherman’s rebuilt defense. A strong showing could set the tone for a special season on the shores of Biscayne Bay.
The Pieces Are in Place
While the defensive makeover is the headline, Miami’s cupboard is hardly bare on the other side of the ball. The Hurricanes recently secured a commitment from coveted QB transfer Carson Beck, who arrives from Georgia with an impressive pedigree. Beck and an array of explosive playmakers give “The U” one of the ACC’s most talented offenses on paper.
- Key Returning Players for Miami:
- RB Jacoby Butler (1,275 rush yds, 14 TDs in 2024)
- WR Xavier Harding (58 rec, 925 yds, 11 TDs)
- OT Francisco Rodriguez (Projected 1st Rd NFL Draft Pick)
- DE Tristan Mosley (9.5 sacks, 16 TFLs in 2024)
If Hetherman can mold Miami’s talented but underperforming defense into a unit befitting the program’s proud history, Cristobal’s squad has all the ingredients for a memorable 2025 season. Expectations are always high at a blueblood program like Miami. With a new sheriff in town to lead the defense, the hope is that the Hurricanes are finally ready to meet those lofty standards and reestablish themselves as a legitimate national power.
The Corey Hetherman era is set to begin in Miami. For a proud fan base starving for a return to college football’s biggest stage, the arrival of a celebrated defensive mind is a welcome sight. Starting with that massive opener against the Irish, we’ll soon find out if Coach Hetherman is the missing piece that can elevate “The U” back to the very top of the sport.
