Despite signing a contract extension with Minnesota in December, defensive coordinator is set to take the same position at Miami (FL).
According to a post by 247Sports’ Matt Zenitz on Saturday, Hetherman emerged as a “leading figure” in Miami’s search, with the deal finalized in under an hour.
While Minnesota recently gave Hetherman a significant raise, Miami’s financial resources proved too strong to compete with.
In his first year as Minnesota’s defensive coordinator, Hetherman turned the Gophers’ defense into a top-20 unit in 2024. They ranked 8th in total yards allowed (290.9 per game), 15th in passing defense (178.3 yards), and 23rd in rushing defense (112.6 yards).
Hetherman was previously linked to Rutgers’ open defensive coordinator position before Minnesota extended his contract. However, Miami, with some of the deepest pockets in college football, offered an opportunity the Gophers couldn’t match financially.
This marks another tough loss for Minnesota, whose coaching staff has been hit by poaching in recent years. Last offseason, longtime defensive coordinator Joe Rossi departed for Michigan State, and the year before, offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca left for Rutgers. Hetherman looked like a stellar hire, and his late exit could leave a significant void in the Gophers’ coaching lineup.
