Two Hurricanes assistant coaches reportedly getting promotions ahead of 2026 season
The Miami Hurricanes are reportedly promoting two of their defensive coaches to higher roles as they round out coach Mario Cristobal’s staff for the 2026 season.
As first reported by CBS Sports on Wednesday, Terry Jefferson is being promoted to cornerbacks coach after serving as an assistant defensive backs coach in 2025 while Will Harris will be secondary coach and defensive pass game coordinator in 2026 after being Miami’s safeties coach during last season’s run to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game.
The moves come with Miami having to replace Zac Etheridge, who served as defensive backs coach and pass game coordinator in 2025 before departing for the NFL to be on the Arizona Cardinals’ coaching staff.
Miami did not immediately replace Etheridge following his departure like they did with the two other coaching staff voids that surfaced during the offseason when they hired Mike Viti as tight ends coach (replacing Cody Woodiel) and Favian Upshaw as running backs coach (replacing Matt Merritt).
Jefferson served as Miami’s de facto cornerbacks coach during spring practices. Cristobal at the time said Jefferson was a “strong candidate” for the job but added they were still working through the hiring process for the position.
Jefferson is in his second stint with the Hurricanes. He previously served on the Hurricanes’ recruiting staff and later worked as a defensive analyst. He left before the 2023 season and became the cornerbacks coach at Jacksonville State. He returned to UM last season as a defensive analyst and assistant coach, primarily working with Miami’s nickel cornerback position.
Harris, meanwhile, is also entering his second season at Miami. Prior to joining the Hurricanes staff, Harris was the secondary coach for the Florida Gators in 2024 and an assistant secondary coach in the NFL for the Los Angeles Chargers in 2023.
Miami’s secondary was arguably its most improved unit in 2025 from 2024 and the group has enviable depth heading into 2026.
All four of Miami’s primary outside corners from last season return in Xavier Lucas, OJ Frederique Jr., Ethan O’Connor and Damari Brown. Ja’Boree Antoine also gained the staff’s trust late last season as a true freshman.
Zechariah Poyser and Bryce Fitzgerald lead the safeties, with Boston College transfer Omar Thornton the primary candidate to be Miami’s main nickel cornerback in 2026.
This story was originally published May 6, 2026 at 4:45 PM.
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