Corey Hetherman leaving Minnesota to take over as Miami’s defensive coordinator

MIAMI — Minnesota defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman is leaving to take over Mario Cristobal’s defense at Miami, a source confirmed to The Athletic on Saturday.

The 44-year-old Massachusetts native, former Division III quarterback and ex-Rutgers assistant turned around the Golden Gophers’ defense in one season.

Minnesota improved from ranking 69th in points allowed (26.7) and 93rd in yards per play (5.95) in 2023 to ninth (16.9 points allowed) and 12th (4.76 yards per play) under Hetherman.

The Hurricanes ranked 68th in scoring defense (25.3 points per game) and 44th in yards per play (5.27) under Lance Guidry, who was fired shortly after the team lost three of its last four games and missed the ACC Championship Game and College Football Playoff.

New Miami CB transfers Ethan O’Connor (right) and Emmanuel Karnley with defensive analyst Michael Sewell (left) pic.twitter.com/zsl5orGKdP

— Manny Navarro (@Manny_Navarro) January 11, 2025

Guidry’s former assistants were on campus Saturday welcoming new players to the program. Miami signed a top-15 recruiting class and added five players on defense through the transfer portal, including defensive tackle David Blay, a Conference USA first-team selection at Louisiana Tech.

The other four were defensive backs who started at least half of their teams’ games this season: Charles Brantley (Michigan State), Zechariah Poyser (Jacksonville State), Emmanuel Karnley (Arizona) and Ethan O’Connor (Washington State).

(Photo: Doug Murray / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)