Defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman leaving Gophers football team for Miami (Fla.)

Gophers defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman, who received a raise and contract extension in December, is leaving Minnesota to take the defensive coordinator job at Miami (Fla.), a source with knowledge of the situation confirmed to the Minnesota Star Tribune on Saturday.

Hetherman, 44, just completed his first and only season as Gophers defensive coordinator with Minnesota’s 24-10 victory over Virginia Tech in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl on Jan. 3 in Charlotte, N.C.

On Dec. 7, Hetherman received a contract extension through the 2026 season that increased his annual pay to $1.19 million, a bump of $340,000. Hetherman will owe a buyout of roughly $600,000 for leaving, and presumably that will be paid by Miami. He is expected to receive a substantial increase in pay from the Hurricanes over his Minnesota compensation.

Hetherman oversaw a Gophers defense that ranked ninth nationally in points allowed (16.9 per game), fifth in total defense (285.7 yards allowed per game), 12th in rushing defense (109.6) and tied for ninth in passing defense (176.1). Minnesota’s 22 interceptions are tied for seventh nationally, and its plus-9 turnover margin is tied for 17th.

Hetherman came to Minnesota after spending the previous two seasons as linebackers coach at Rutgers. He replaced Joe Rossi, who left to become Michigan State’s defensive coordinator. Under Rossi, the Gophers had scoring defenses that ranked fourth nationally in 2022 (13.8 points allowed per game) and tied for sixth in 2021 (17.3) before a series of injuries, especially at linebacker, led to a dropoff in 2023, when Minnesota allowed 26.7 points per game. A return to health on defense helped the Gophers forge an 8-5 record in 2024.

At Miami, Hetherman joins head coach Mario Cristobal and replaces Lance Guidry, who was fired as defensive coordinator in December after the Hurricanes faded late in the chase for a berth in the College Football Playoff. Miami went 10-3 in 2024, ending with losses of 42-38 at Syracuse in the regular-season finale and 42-41 to Iowa State in the Pop-Tarts Bowl. The Hurricanes ranked 68th nationally in scoring defense (25.3).

This marks the fourth consecutive offseason that Gophers coach P.J. Fleck has had to fill an opening at either offensive or defensive coordinator. If Fleck decides to fill the job with an internal candidate, his options would be safeties coach/defensive pass game coordinator Danny Collins, who served as interim defensive coordinator for the Gophers’ 2023 Quick Lane Bowl appearance in place of Rossi; cornerbacks coach/co-defensive coordinator Nick Monroe; and defensive line coach/assistant head coach Winston DeLattiboudere III.

When Hetherman received his contract extension in December, it came shortly after Rutgers defensive coordinator Joe Harasymiak left to become head coach at Massachusetts. Speculation was that Hetherman could become a candidate to return to Rutgers, and Fleck credited the efforts of Minnesota’s administration for helping retain Hetherman.

“I’m really excited about the opportunity to keep Corey,” Fleck said Dec. 8. “That says a lot about our administration stepping forward, and just says a lot about the connection in that room, too, that he really wants to be here, because he’s got a lot of opportunities as well. … And he’s got a lot more coming up, too."

Turns out, Fleck was more prophetic than he had hoped to be.