Assistant coaches spend most of the time out of the spotlight, but Corey Hetherman is better than most coaches. Miami’s first-year defensive coordinator earned a place among five finalists for the Broyles Award, which honors the nation’s top assistant coach.
The Broyles Foundation invited Hetherman, Georgia offensive coordinator Mike Bobo, Indiana defensive coordinator Bryant Haines, Ohio State defensive coordinator Matt Patricia and Texas Tech defensive coordinator Shiel Wood to Hot Springs, Arkansas, for the 30th annual ceremony Feb. 12-13. Fans will shape the outcome, and voting at BroylesAward.com/vote runs through late January. It counts both toward the final tally and a VIP trip sweepstakes.
Hetherman’s case starts with raw production. Miami closed the regular season ranked 6th nationally and 1st in the ACC in scoring defense at 13.8 points per game and 7th nationally in rushing defense with 86.8 yards allowed. The Hurricanes also finished 11th in total defense at 277.8 yards, 14th in sacks per game at 2.83 and in the Top 15 in opponent yards per play, yards per rush, yards per pass and third-down rate.
The numbers hit even harder for anyone who watched last season. In 2024, Miami opponents averaged 23.9 points and 319.8 yards per game, with softer run and pass figures across the board. Hetherman and his staff tightened run defense, cleaned up communication and leaned on a disruptive front headlined by Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor. It turned a solid unit into a group that smothered Florida, Notre Dame and the rest of a schedule that led to the College Football Playoff.
Mario Cristobal pointed to structure and teaching when he discussed the Hetherman hire. His position-less approach—edge players dropping out, safeties rolling down, corners sliding inside—gave Miami answers for tempo teams and big-bodied power outfits in the same playbook.
Hetherman coordinated Top-10 defenses at James Madison, collected the AFCA FCS Assistant Coach of the Year award in 2021, then guided Minnesota to a top-five finish in total defense before Cristobal lured him to Coral Gables.
This finalist nod reinforces a bigger storyline. The program entered 2025 searching for a defensive identity that matched an explosive offense; Hetherman’s arrival delivered a physical, disciplined group right as the Hurricanes crashed the CFP field. Recruits now see a coordinator with national buzz, NFL-caliber tape and a track record of development from FCS to the Big Ten to the ACC.
The Broyles Award relies on fan voting, and supporters can submit a ballot once every 24 hours. For a defense that carried Miami into college football’s biggest stage, a daily click feels like a small price.
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