Corey Hetherman, Linebackers - Rutgers

Inside the Headset with the AFCA

This week on Inside the Headset, we are featuring Rutgers Linebackers Coach, Corey Hetherman. Coach Hetherman shares his personal experience playing and coaching in Europe, details the knowledge he gained from coaching different position groups throughout his career, and speaks on his time being apart of the AFCA 35 Under 35 Leadership Institute.

Corey Hetherman is in his first season as linebackers coach for Rutgers football. Hetherman comes to Piscataway after working the past three seasons at James Madison as defensive coordinator. 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. Hetherman picked up the title of associate head coach prior to the 2021 season and earned AFCA FCS Assistant Coach of the Year. In three seasons at James Madison, Hetherman helped the Dukes win three Colonial Athletic Association Conference Title with an overall conference record of 18-1 in that time period. Hetherman was also named to the 2021 AFCA 35 Under 35 class.

Hetherman came to JMU after spending the previous four seasons at the University of 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 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 percent) and fourth in total defense (313.1). Before a brief stop at Pace University in 2014, Hetherman coached four seasons at Old Dominion as the defensive run-game coordinator and linebackers coach. Hetherman also had stops at Northeastern (2009) and Springfield College (2007-08), and spent time coaching overseas for the Wuerzburg Panthers (Germany) and Carinthian Black Lions (Austria).

• [0:30] Start of interview
• [0:55] Coaching in Europe
• [2:55] Small school coaching challenges
• [6:17] Knowledge gained by coaching different position groups
• [13:17] Learning from other coaches
• [16:16] Having trust in your assistant coaches
• [19:17] Always staying one step ahead as a coordinator
• [21:08] Experience being a part of the 35 Under 35 Leadership institute