College football’s always in motion. Coaching changes? They can turn a whole season on its head. This year, a handful of new coordinators are already making waves. Defensive wizards, offensive architects—these folks are rewriting the script for their teams. So, how are these first-year coordinators stacking up so far? Let’s check out their midterm grades and see what kind of splash they’ve made.
Miami’s Defensive Renaissance Under Corey Hetherman
After Miami missed the College Football Playoff—even with the nation’s top quarterback and a killer offense in 2024—coach Mario Cristobal knew the defense needed fresh direction. Enter Corey Hetherman, who came over from Minnesota with a solid reputation.
Hetherman’s arrival has been a game-changer. Miami now sits ninth nationally in points allowed (11.5 PPG) and is tied for eighth against the run (76.3 YPG).
Key Players Thriving
Guys like Rueben Bain Jr. are thriving under Hetherman. Bain Jr. has put up 2 sacks, 3.5 tackles for loss, 1 interception, and 1 forced fumble.
Transfers Mohamed Toure (Rutgers) and Jakobe Thomas (Tennessee) are making their presence felt, too. The defense is only giving up 2.6 yards per rush—pretty impressive.
Hetherman’s really squeezed the most out of the talent on hand. The defense is more physical, faster, and just communicates better. *Our guys have learned a lot of football. They’re playing with physicality and playing fast, and communicating at a much higher level,* Cristobal said.
Grade: A
Florida State’s Offensive Explosion with Gus Malzahn
Florida State had a rough 2-10 run in 2024, so changes were inevitable. The biggest? Hiring Gus Malzahn as offensive coordinator.
Malzahn’s fingerprints are all over the offense. Florida State leads the country in both scoring (53 PPG) and total offense (600 YPG).
Creative Playcalling
Malzahn’s creativity jumps off the screen every week. The offense just keeps humming, always one step ahead.
Even after a rough loss to Virginia—three turnovers, yikes—the group bounced back. *I feel like I got one of the best playcallers in the country,* head coach Mike Norvell said. Malzahn’s use of quarterback Tommy Castellanos and wide receiver Duce Robinson has been spot-on.
Grade: A-
Oklahoma’s Offensive Overhaul with Ben Arbuckle
Oklahoma did some serious shuffling in the offseason. They brought in quarterback John Mateer from Washington State, and his playcaller Ben Arbuckle came along for the ride.
Arbuckle was just 27 when he got the OC gig at WSU, and now he’s helping the Sooners to a 4-0 start. That includes home wins over Michigan and Auburn—no small feat.
Developing an Identity
Arbuckle’s energy and leadership have been huge for Oklahoma. The Sooners are putting up 305 passing yards per game and have cashed in on all 17 of their red zone trips.
*He’s done a fantastic job from leadership, energy, developing an identity,* coach Brent Venables said. Hard to argue with that.
Grade: B+
Texas Tech’s Dual Coordinator Success
Joey McGuire’s Texas Tech squad is rolling, thanks to two new faces: Shiel Wood (defense) and Mack Leftwich (offense). Wood’s defense is giving up just 11.3 points per game.
Meanwhile, Leftwich’s offense is lighting up the scoreboard with 52 points per game.
Defensive Standouts
Wood took over a defense with guys like Jacob Rodriguez and high-profile transfers Romello Height and David Bailey. The unit ranks top 10 in both points allowed and yards per play.
*I wanted a guy that was a multiple, that wasn’t just a three-down guy, wasn’t just a four-down guy, who could fit our current players in and then the guys we were going to bring in,* McGuire said. Makes sense.
Offensive Innovation
Leftwich, who’s Texas through and through, has mixed wide splits, run-and-shoot, and Air Raid concepts. The result? One of the most dangerous offenses in the country.
Grade: A
Ohio State’s Defensive Resurgence with Matt Patricia
When Jim Knowles left Ohio State for Penn State, it was a big loss. But hiring Matt Patricia turned out to be a pretty slick move.
Even though Patricia hadn’t coached college ball recently, he’s got Ohio State leading the FBS in fewest points allowed (5.5 PPG).
Impressive Performances
The defense nearly blanked Texas and totally smothered Washington. Caden Curry and Arvell Reese are just two guys thriving in Patricia’s system.
*The guys just love Matt,* Ohio State coach Ryan Day said. Patricia’s NFL chops and his knack for adjusting to his players have made a real difference.
Grade: A
Notre Dame’s Defensive Struggles with Chris Ash
Notre Dame’s defense hasn’t been up to its usual standards with Chris Ash at the controls. The roster’s talented, but something’s just not clicking.
Room for Improvement
There have been flashes, sure, but inconsistency keeps popping up. They’ll need to tighten things up if they want to meet those sky-high expectations.
Grade: C+
Conclusion
First-year coordinators in college football have a bigger impact than most folks realize. Some are flipping defenses on their heads, while others are lighting up the scoreboard.
Honestly, it’s tough not to get curious about how these coaches will keep shaking things up as the 2025 season rolls on. If you want to dig deeper or check out their midterm grades, just head over to the original article on ESPN.
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