The Minnesota Golden Gophers announced on Saturday that defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman has signed a contract extension, securing his position through the 2026 season. While the specific terms of the deal have not been disclosed, the extension ensures that Hetherman will remain with the team for several more years.
This announcement comes shortly after the news that Rutgers defensive coordinator Joe Harasymiak has been hired as the new head coach at UMass. Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano has a history of poaching coaching talent from Minnesota, having previously hired Harasymiak, offensive coordinator Kirk Ciarrocca, and former defensive line coach Jim Panagos when they were all assistants under Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck.
Hetherman, who spent two years coaching linebackers at Rutgers, was brought in to replace Joe Rossi as the Gophers’ defensive coordinator.
In his first season with Minnesota, Hetherman has made an immediate impact. Under his leadership, the Gophers’ defense has ranked impressively high in several categories.
As of this season, Minnesota’s defense is 22nd in the nation for run defense, 16th for pass defense, and 13th for scoring defense, showing significant improvement and establishing a solid foundation for the team’s defensive unit moving forward.
Hetherman’s strategic adjustments and leadership have been key in elevating the Gophers’ defense to one of the more formidable units in college football.
With the contract extension, Minnesota has demonstrated its commitment to Hetherman’s leadership and the continued growth of its defense, ensuring stability in the coaching staff for the next few years. The move also highlights the program’s long-term vision as it looks to remain competitive in the Big Ten and beyond.
Leave a Reply