University of Maine Athletics

Corey Hetherman, who was promoted to defensive coordinator on Feb. 1, 2016, is currently in his fourth season at UMaine.

In his first year as defensive coordinator, the Black Hole defense ranked third in the league in pass defense, allowing just 217.1 yards per game through the air. Hetherman, who worked closely with the defensive line, helped mentor NFL free agent Pat Ricard. Ricard also earned CAA all-conference honors after ranking fifth in the league in sacks and finishing as the CAA runner-up with 15.5 tackles for loss.

Hetherman was tasked in his second year as coordinator in replacing large holes left on the defensive line after the departure of Ricard to the NFL and run stopping leader Darius Greene inside. Hetherman's guidance and ability to develop the next man up shined through first-year starter Kayon Whitaker. Whitaker went on to earn All-CAA honors after ranking seventh in the league in sacks (8.5) and fourth in tackles for loss (14.0). Hetherman's defensive scheme was especially impressive on third down where the Black Bears led the league, allowing oppositions to capitalize on just 27.0-percent of their third down attempts.

Hetherman joined the Black Bears’ staff for the 2015 season when he was hired as Maine’s defensive line coach.

In 2015, under Hetherman’s guidance, the Black Bears defense ranked second in the league in rush yards allowed, surrendering just 110.8 yards per game. The Black Hole defense also finished second in the Colonial Athletic Association in sacks, totaling 32 in 11 games. Maine produced a pair of first team all-conference linemen under Hetherman’s direction in Trevor Bates and Pat Ricard. Ricard and Bates ranked first and third in the league in tackles for loss with 16.5 and 14.5, respectively. The duo also racked up a total of 14.5 sacks. Bates was drafted in the seventh round of the 2016 NFL Draft to the Indianapolis Colts.

Hetherman spent the 2014 season as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Pace University where he was in charge of developing and implementing the defensive game plan. At Pace, Hetherman also formatted the team’s PAT and field goal block design and was responsible for all defensive recruits. 

Prior to his time at Pace, Hetherman spent a year at Old Dominion as the defensive run game coordinator and linebackers assistant coach. While at Old Dominion, Hetherman mentored two-time Colonial Athletic Association All-Conference linebacker Craig Wilkins. Before his promotion at ODU, Hetherman coached the outside linebackers for the Monarchs after spending 2009-10 coaching the rovers at Northeastern University.

Hetherman got his start in college coaching as a graduate assistant at Springfield College from 2007-09 and also spent a year coaching overseas for the Wuerzburg Panthers. 

As a player, Hetherman was a three year starter at quarterback for Fitchburg State and was elected captain by his teammates for the 2005 season. Hetherman went 21-11 under center for Fitchburg State, leading the team to two MASCAC Championships, two NEFC Championship games and two ECAC Bowl games.

After college, Hetherman spent a year with the Carinthian Black Lions of the Austrian Football League and played the 2007 season with the Wuerzburg Panthers of the German Football League. 

Hetherman graduated from Fitchburg State with a bachelor of science in Secondary Education and is in the process of obtaining his masters of physical education in athletic administration.