Miami adds Jacksonville State CB coach, former Hurricanes assistant Terry Jefferson to staff

Miami is hiring former Jacksonville State cornerbacks coach Terry Jefferson to assist with the defensive backs, per Gaby Urrutia. This isn’t Jefferson’s first stop in Miami.

He worked with the Hurricane’s defensive backs in 2022 after spending two seasons helping Miami’s recruiting and personnel efforts. Jefferson also assisted with Miami’s football operations.

Under Jefferson’s tutelage this past season, Jacksonville State held teams to 218.2 passing yards per game, ranking No. 66 in the nation. Additionally, Jacksonville State recorded 12 interceptions this season, tied for the 44th-most in the country.

The Gamecocks were even more dangerous on defense in the 2023 campaign, tallying 16 picks. During the season, Jefferson mentored Derek Carter, who was a Second-Team All-Conference USA selection after recording eight pass breakups to lead the team and place third in the conference.

Now, Jefferson will return to Miami with hopes of finding even more success. While Miami’s defense certainly wasn’t its strength this past season, the Hurricanes’ pass coverage was solid, holding opponents to 214.4 passing yards per game.

Terry Jefferson isn’t the only fresh face that Miami is bringing in this offseason to help with the team’s secondary. In January, the Hurricanes hired Zac Etheridge, who spent the 2024 season as Houston‘s defensive backs coach.

In 2024, the Cougars limited opponents to 188.8 passing yards per game, ranking third in the Big 12. Houston’s 2,266 passing yards allowed were its fewest in a non-COVID season (eight games played) in 30 years (2,160 yards in 1994).

UH held opponents under 225 passing yards nine times (15th nationally) and intercepted passes in eight of 12 games including three against Baylor (Nov. 23) which ranked tied for the fifth most nationally by a Power Four program on the season.

With Etheridge and Jefferson both coaching up Miami’s defensive backs next season, the Hurricanes could field one of the best secondaries in the ACC. After all, Miami has already made some significant additions to its secondary depth this season, via the NCAA Transfer Portal.

Miami has reeled in four defensive back transfers this offseason, headlined by cornerbacks Ethan O’Connor and Charles Brantley. O’Connor was the No. 5 CB to enter the transfer portal this offseason, according to On3’s 2025 Transfer Portal Player Rankings.

Miami finished the regular season with a 10-2 record, narrowly missing the College Football Playoff. Next season, the Hurricanes will look to get over the hump and reach the CFP for the first time in Mario Cristobal’s tenure.