Miami agrees to new multi-year contracts with coordinators Shannon Dawson, Corey Hetherman

Miami is doubling down on continuity after a breakout College Football Playoff run, locking in both of their coordinators for the foreseeable future. According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, the Hurricanes have agreed to new multi-year contracts with offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson and defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman. 

The moves come after both units took massive leaps, helping reestablish Miami as one of the most complete teams in college football. Dawson just completed his third season with the program and orchestrated one of the most explosive offenses in the country. 

Under his direction, Miami has led the nation in both scoring and total offense, while also helping develop quarterback Cam Ward into the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft. The turnaround has been significant since Dawson’s arrival. 

In his first season, Miami improved from No. 85 nationally in total offense to No. 25, a jump that set the foundation for the unit’s eventual rise to the top of the sport. His success has not gone unnoticed, as Dawson has emerged as a candidate for multiple head coaching openings over the past two hiring cycles.

On the defensive side, Hetherman made an immediate impact in his first year with the Hurricanes. After arriving from Minnesota, where he led the nation’s No. 9 scoring defense, Hetherman transformed a Miami unit that ranked No. 70 in scoring defense into a top-five group.

The Hurricanes allowed more than 10 fewer points per game in 2024, finishing No. 5 nationally and earning Hetherman recognition as a Broyles Award finalist. His rapid success also drew interest from the NFL, further emphasizing the value Miami sees in retaining him long-term.

Despite the success, Hetherman emphasized that the program is approaching 2026 with a fresh mindset: “I think the details and the foundation and how we compete and how we go about just the technique and the fundamentals, but really it’s a clean start,” Hetherman said via Sports Illustrated. “You know, it’s just start from the beginning, beginner’s mentality to start practice, to start camp.”

He added: “We’re not going to be the same team as we were last year. We got to learn things that maybe we weren’t as good at. … We got to find some better answers.”

Dawson echoed a similar sentiment on the offensive side, pointing to roster turnover and competition as key themes this spring: “We’re excited about the new blood up front. … This is their time to compete,” Dawson explained. “We’re gonna move people around and see where they fit the best.”

With both coordinators now locked in, Miami is betting that continuity, paired with evolving talent, can keep the Hurricanes among the nation’s elite. Along with finally delivering another national title.