He’s officially a Cane. Miami football announces Guidry as new defensive coordinator
The University of Miami on Wednesday officially announced the hiring of defensive coordinator Lance Guidry, who did wonders last season for the Marshall Thundering Herd.
No doubt Hurricanes head coach Mario Cristobal and the UM faithful are hoping for the same in 2023 after a disappointing 5-7 season in 2022. Canes defensive coordinator Kevin Steele, at Miami for one year, recently left the Hurricanes to return to Alabama as its defensive coordinator.
Guidry, 51, was lured from Tulane less than a month after being hired there. He had Marshall posting elite defensive numbers last season.
Guidry’s defense will have another new linebackers coach, as former Miami assistant and co-defensive coordinator Charlie Strong left the program recently and is expected to be replaced by Derek Nicholson, who had just been hired by Cincinnati. Nicholson, 36, served as inside linebackers coach for Louisville the past three seasons.
In 2022, Guidry’s Marshall was first nationally in third-down conversion percentage on defense (opponents converted only 23.5 percent of their third-down attempts); fifth in rushing defense (93 yards allowed per game); 27th in passing yards allowed (201.5); eighth in total defense (294.5 yards); fifth in turnovers gained (29); sixth in passes intercepted (18); sixth in scoring defense (16 points); 12th in defensive touchdowns (3); third in yards per play (4.6); 16th in sacks (2.92 per game); and 22nd in team tackles for loss (6.9 per game).
Guidry frequently uses only two or three down defensive linemen, with stand-up edge rushers. He implements a 4-2-5 scheme, though that sometimes varies. He also knows the South Florida area after serving as FAU’s safeties coach in 2020. He started for four years at defensive back as a player at McNeese State from 1990 to ‘93, and began his coaching career there as a graduate assistant in 1994.
Guidry has spent all his previous coaching years at FCS or Group of 5 schools, but was a head coach for three seasons — 2016-’18 — at McNeese State, his alma mater. He posted a 21-12 record there as a head coach and earned All-Conference honors twice as a strong safety from 1990-’93.
This story was originally published February 15, 2023 at 3:09 PM.
