Hurricanes reportedly promoting Terry Jefferson to cornerbacks coach

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The Hurricanes ultimately decided to stay within the program when searching for their new cornerbacks coach.

Miami is expected to promote assistant defensive backs coach Terry Jefferson to cornerbacks coach after he spent a season as the Hurricanes’ nickelbacks coach, according to a report from CBS Sports and 247Sports.

“I think Terry is an awesome coach,” UM coach Mario Cristobal said in March.

Jefferson, a Miami native, is in his second stint with the Hurricanes. In his first stint, he was on the recruiting staff and later worked as a defensive analyst. He left before the 2023 season and became the cornerbacks coach at Jacksonville State.

While Jefferson was at Jacksonville State, the Gamecocks had the No. 5 passing defense in Conference USA in 2023 and the No. 6 passing defense in the conference in 2024. Both seasons, Jacksonville State was second in the conference in interceptions.

Jefferson returned to UM before the 2025 season as a defensive analyst and assistant coach. He helped coach the defensive backs and focused on the nickel position, helping Keionte Scott rise to an NFL-caliber player.

After cornerbacks coach Zac Etheridge left UM to take a position on the Arizona Cardinals’ coaching staff, Miami did not immediately fill the vacancy. Jefferson coached the cornerbacks during spring practice.

Cristobal said at the start of spring practice that they were still in the hiring process, but that Jefferson was a strong candidate.

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