Corey Hetherman - Football Coach - James Madison University Athletics

Corey Hetherman

Title:
Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Ends
Email:
hethercj@jmu.edu
Phone:
540-568-6517

Corey Hetherman was hired on Dec. 20, 2018 as James Madison University’s defensive coordinator and defensive ends coach and completed his third season in 2021.

He was also given the title of associate head coach prior to the 2021 campaign, a season in which he was named AFCA FCS Assistant Coach of the Year.

JMU’s defense ranked as one of the nation’s bests each season under Hetherman’s tutelage, placing in the top 10 in both total defense and scoring defense each season.

In his first season with the Dukes, JMU led the FCS in total defense (270.2) while ranking third in both scoring defense (15.7) and against the run (74.8). JMU’s defense also ranked third nationally in third-down defense (30%), fifth in tackles for loss (8.5), sixth in pass efficiency defense (111.83), seventh in interceptions (17), 11th in takeaways (26) and 12th in sacks (2.94).

Four defenders earned All-America accolades in 2019, highlighted by Consensus All-American Ron’Dell Carter, who was runner-up for the Buck Buchanan Award. John Daka also finished seventh in the Buchanan Award voting, while both Dimitri Holloway and Adam Smith garnered All-America accolades.

Carter, the CAA Defensive Player of the Year paced eight defensive players on the All-CAA team, with five earning First Team honors. Hetherman’s defensive ends unit combined for 60 tackles for loss, 29.5 sacks and 26 quarterback hurries, paced by Daka’s nation-leading 28 TFL and 16.5 sacks. Carter also contributed 27 TFL and 12 sacks.

In year two, which took place during the spring of 2021, the JMU defense ranked third in the FCS in rush defense (72.4) and interceptions (12) while ranking fifth in total defense (243.4), sixth in pass efficiency defense (100.74) and eighth in scoring defense (16.5).

For the second straight season, one of his defensive lineman was both a finalist for the Buchanan Award and CAA Defensive Player of the Year, as Mike Greene finished ninth in the voting for the nation’s top defensive award while earning multiple All-America laurels. Four defenders took home all-conference awards, with Greene and MJ Hampton earning First Team distinction.

This past season, JMU’s defense ranked in the top 10 in 10 separate categories, which included a #1 ranking in both turnover margin (+1.36) and turnovers forced (31). The Dukes were also second in tackles for loss (8.2), third in fumble recoveries (13), fourth in interceptions (18) and fifth on third down (27.2%). They were also seventh in scoring defense (15.4), eighth in both total defense (275.2) and rushing defense (89.0) and 10th in pass efficiency defense (111.86).

A total of four defensive Dukes were recognized as 2021 All-Americans, including two of his defensive linemen in Bryce Carter and Greene, as well as Diamonte Tucker-Dorsey and Greg Ross. Six Dukes were also All-CAA members.

A 2020 selection to the AFCA's 35 Under 35 Leadership Institute, Hetherman came to JMU after spending the previous four seasons at CAA foe Maine (2015-18), where he led the defensive line and served as the defensive coordinator for three of his four seasons in Orono.

He quickly turned Maine into a defensive power in the FCS, which included leading the league in six categories in 2018, highlighted by the FCS-leading rushing defense (79.2). Maine also ranked second nationally in sacks (47). The Black Bears also led the CAA in yards per carry allowed (2.4), interceptions (18), fumble recoveries (13) and fumbles for a touchdown (3) while ranking second in third-down defense (28.4%) and fourth in total defense (313.1).

Hetherman guided six Maine defenders to All-CAA status, led by All-Americans Sterling Sheffield and Manny Patterson. Two members of his defensive line, Kayon Whitaker and Charles Mitchell, also earned all-conference laurels.

In 2017, Maine led the CAA on third down, allowing the opposition to a 27 percent success rate. Whitaker developed in his first year as a starter to all-conference stats after ranking fourth in tackles for loss (14.0) and seventh in sacks (8.5). His first year leading Maine’s Black Hole defense, he helped mentor all-conference lineman Pat Ricard to the NFL after he ranked second in the conference in tackles for loss and fifth in sacks. Maine ranked third in the league in pass defense as well, at 217.1 yards per game allowed.

Hetherman’s 2015 defensive line gave way to Maine ranking second in the CAA in rushing defense, surrendering just 110.8 yards per game. They also ranked second in the CAA in sacks, with 32. Two linemen earned First Team All-CAA status in Trevor Bates and Ricard. The duo combined for 31.0 tackles for loss and 14.5 sacks, as Bates would go on to be a seventh-round draft pick to the Indianapolis Colts in the 2016 NFL Draft.

Prior to Maine, Hetherman was defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Pace University (2014) for one season where he developed the team’s defensive game plan and formatted the PAT and field goal block design.

He coached four seasons at Old Dominion (2010-13). He served as defensive run-game coordinator and assistant linebackers coach in his final season, mentoring two-time All-CAA linebacker Craig Wilkins. He also coached outside linebackers for the Monarchs prior to his promotion.

Hetherman also had stops at Northeastern (2009) and Springfield College (2007-08), and spent a year coaching overseas for the Wuerzburg Panthers.

A three-year starting quarterback at Fitchburg State, Hetherman was a team captain in 2005. He went 21-11 as a starter, leading the team to a pair of MASCAC titles, two NEFC championship games and a berth in two ECAC bowl games. Prior to his coaching career, he spent one year with the Carinthian Black Lions of the Austrian Football League before a season with Wuerzburg in the German Football League.

Hetherman graduated from Fitchburg State with a bachelor of science in secondary education.