Miami fires defensive coordinator Lance Guidry after losing three of final four games

After what could best be described as a rough end to the 2024 season, Miami parted ways with defensive coordinator Lance Guidry on Tuesday.

Guidry spent two years in Coral Gables running Cristobal’s defense. Miami ranked 44th in scoring defense (22.8 points per game) in 2023 but slipped to 68th (25.3) this season with a sloppy finish. The unit’s 5.27 yards per play allowed ranked sixth in the ACC and 46th overall.

“I want to first thank Coach Guidry for his contributions to the University of Miami,” head coach Mario Cristobal said in a statement released by the school’s athletic department. “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.”

The Hurricanes started the season 9-0, had the No. 1 scoring offense in the country and were ranked in the top five before losing two of their last three regular season games, 28-23 at Georgia Tech and 42-38 at Syracuse. The loss to the Orange in the regular season finale kept Miami out of the ACC Championship Game, and it came in at 13th in the final College Football Playoff rankings, one of the first two teams out of the 12-team playoff field. Miami then lost the Pop-Tarts Bowl to Iowa State 42-41.

(Photo: Todd Kirkland / Getty Images)