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Miami Hurricanes defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman Named One of College Football’s Most Impactful Hires

On3 imageby:CaneSport.com Staff•about 10 hours•

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Corey Hetherman
Corey Hetherman (photo by Gary Ferman)

Miami Hurricanes coach Mario Cristobal believes he made an impactful hire with new defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman.

And another believer is On3 football expert Andy Staples. Staples lists Hetherman, who coached last year at Minnesota, among his “most impactful coordinator hires of the college football offseason.”

In his analysis of why Hetherman made the cut, Staples writes “Hetherman’s defense was spectacular in his only season at Minnesota. The Golden Gophers finished 12th in the nation in yards per play allowed (4.8) and ninth in points per game allowed (16.9).

Hetherman joined the Gophers after two seasons as Greg Schiano’s linebackers coach at Rutgers. The prior two seasons, he was Curt Cignetti’s DC at James Madison. The time spent with Schiano is important. Schiano is one of Miami coach Mario Cristobal’s mentors, and a coach who can work successfully with one likely will mesh well with the other.”

Staples adds that “Miami’s defense probably cost the Hurricanes a College Football Playoff berth last season, which is why Cristobal had to make a change at DC. The defense probably will have to be better this year, because the offense might take a step back after losing QB Cam Ward and star receiver Xavier Restrepo.”

Indeed.

So a lot is on Hetherman’s shoulders.

He has promised to simplify things at Miami, allowing his defenders to play fast in his aggressive 4-2-5 system. As you watch film of what he preached at Minnesota at his prior stop, you see that speed making a difference. He is looking to make a big jump up in Year 1 at Miami, and he achieved that in his lone season with the Gophers – his group went from ranked No. 70 in the nation in points per game allowed the prior year to No. 9, from 59th in pass yards allowed to 10th, from 64th in rush yards allowed to 12th and from 56th in total defense to No. 5.

Sound good, Cane fans?

“We want to be an attacking style defense, we’re going to be very multiple,” Hetherman said at his introductory press conference. “Everywhere I’ve been, you kind of go evaluate who’s in the room, who can we attract to where we are and then figure out how to plug it in from there.

“There’s a lot of really good athletes I think there’s a lot of talent. There’s a lot of speed on the defensive side of football and I think I’m excited about trying to figure out exactly where everyone goes and where everyone will work. But, we’re going to be an attacking, aggressive-style defense. We’re going to try to dictate the tempo.”

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