Indiana vs. Miami: College football playoff national championship preview
Preview of the college football playoff national championship game between Indiana and Miami, featuring key players, strategies, and predictions.
Miami football finds itself in a dogfight in the College Football Playoff national championship against No. 1 Indiana at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida.
After falling into a double-digit halftime deficit, the 10th-seeded Hurricanes successfully implemented some halftime adjustments on both ends of the ball, finally getting on the board with a 57-yard rushing touchdown from Mark Fletcher Jr. on the their first drive of the second half.
The Hurricanes then sustained a special teams mishap a few drives later, as Indiana blocked Dylan Joyce’s punt attempt deep in Miami’s side of the field for a score.
Miami is fighting for the program’s first CFP championship and its first national championship since winning the 2002 BCS Championship game against Nebraska. A Hurricanes win would also give the ACC its first CFP championship crown since Clemson won the title for the 2018 season.
That his stirred curiosity as to who is on the Hurricanes’ coaching staff, as they’ve got some big-name hitters on the sidelines.
Here’s what to know on the Canes’ coaching staff:
University of Miami coaching staff
Former Miami offensive lineman Mario Cristobal is in his fourth season as the Hurricanes’ head coach.
Here’s a full breakdown of Cristobal’s coaching staff:
- Offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach: Shannon Dawson
- Defensive coordinator/linebackers coach: Corey Hetherman
- Assistant head coach/offensive line coach: Alex Mirabal
- Wide receivers coach: Kevin Beard
- Defensive pass game coordinator/defensive backs coach: Zac Etheridge
- Safeties coach: Will Harris
- Defensive tackles coach: Damione Lewis
- Running backs coach: Matt Merritt
- Defensive line coach: Jason Taylor
- Tight ends coach: Cody Woodiel
- Special teams coordinator: Danny Kalter
Click here to view the Hurricanes’ full coaching staff, including senior analysts and analysts.
Miami defensive coordinator
The Hurricanes’ defensive coordinator is Corey Hetherman, who is in his first season in that position on Cristobal’s staff.
Hetherman came to the Hurricanes this past offseason from Minnesota, where he served in the same position. Before being with the Golden Gophers, he spent two seasons at Rutgers as the Scarlet Knights’ linebackers coach.
The first-year Hurricanes defensive coordinator is familiar with Indiana coach Curt Cignetti and his offensive scheme, as he served as Cignetti’s defensive coordinator for three seasons at James Madison before jumping to the Big Ten with Rutgers.
“He’s one of the best football coaches I’ve ever been around,” Cignetti said earlier this week of Hetherman. “His day-in-and-day-out intensity and his commitment to the game is unparalleled.
Miami offensive coordinator
The Hurricanes’ offensive coordinator is Shannon Dawson, who is in his third season in that position on Cristobal’s staff. Under Dawson’s play calling last season with eventual No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward, the Hurricanes’ offense led the country in both points per game (43.9) and yards (537.2).
Does Jason Taylor coach for Miami?
Yes, Jason Taylor, the three-time All-Pro First Team selection and Pro Football Hall of Famer, now coaches at Miami on Cristobal’s staff. Taylor serves as the defensive line coach with the Hurricanes.
