The Miami Hurricanes defense failed repeatedly during the ACC portion of the schedule and then the bowl game this past season, allowing an average of 30.6 points and 363.4 yards over the eight conference games … and then allowing 42 points in the Pop-Tarts Bowl loss to Iowa State. For perspective, the ACC numbers would have ranked No. 106 and No. 63 in the nation compared to other teams’ entire seasons, respectively.

Now defensive coordinator Lance Guidry has paid the price and has been fired.

“I want to first thank Coach Guidry for his contributions to the University of Miami,” Head Coach Mario Cristobal said. “In a continuous effort to always improve all aspects of our program, I have decided to make a change on defense. We will move forward and make decisions that provide our players, staff and program the best opportunity to win and develop at the highest level.”

Guidry’s 2023 defense was fairly successful, ranking No. 24 in total defense and No. 42 in scoring defense. But the 2024 group appeared confused many times and struggled with communication. Busts were the result too often.

Now the search is on for a top-level coordinator to take over. It’s likely that to-be-determined coordinator will bring some new staff in as well, so stay tuned for more attrition.

Mario Cristobal now is hiring his third defensive coordinator entering his fourth year at the head of the Miami program. But this was a move that became necessary because of the way Miami ended the season and essentially wasted a career-season by Cam Ward, the offense and coordinator Shannon Dawson.

Hopes were high when Guidry arrived that his attacking style of defense would be a perfect fit for the Canes, but an issue was the pressure his 4-2-5 put on cornerbacks that needed to hold up in one-on-one coverage. In 2023 with Jaden Davis, Te’Cory Couch, Daryl Porter, Jr. and Damari Brown at corner backed by safeties Kam Kinchens and James Williams, his defense looked fine.

But of the above, only Brown and Porter returned this year, and Brown was injured almost all season. Portal additions were relied upon at DB but just didn’t really work out – safety Meesh Powell was up-and-down, CB D’yoni Hill struggled and former transfer CB/nickel Jadais Richard also wasn’t a difference-maker. It didn’t help that LB Francisco Mauigoa wasn’t the same guy the team saw in 2023, perhaps in part due to a lingering injury. Up front DE Rueben Bain was injured early in the year and wasn’t dominant when he returned, and DE Tyler Baron faded after a strong start to the year – he wound up coming off the bench by the end of the season.

The personnel failures were compounded by the confusion that was apparent on defense, with players seemingly every game having reps or two with too many men on the field … or their arms in the air looking to the sidelines or at each other prior to the snap.

As this Miami team looks to the 2025 season, the portal will likely need to be relied on heavily as there are not many proven guys returning.

Up front Bain and Akheem Mesidor return, but the team loses Baron, CJ Clark and Simeon Barrow. DT Ahmad Moten was decent in limited reps, and perhaps former 5-star DT Justin Scott can stand out in Year 2. It’s a very young and unproven group of linemen on the roster, so veteran talent in the portal is going to be a priority.

At linebacker with Mauigoa gone the team will also likely look to the portal for at least one more addition. Miami has back Wesley Bissainthe and Jaylin Alderman, and younger guys like Raul Aguirre and Bobby Pruitt had decent performances in limited reps.

Which brings us to the secondary. CB OJ Frederique is the main proven guy there, and perhaps Brown as well based on him starting four games as a freshman and looking good. Safety Zaquan Patterson also had some moments as a true freshman and could shine as a sophomore.

The portal has already added several players to the defense: DT David Blay, CB Charles Brantley, CB Emmanuel Karnley and S Zechariah Poyser.

Depending where the new coordinator arrives from, perhaps some players from that program will follow on his heels. So there will be a lot going on from a defensive standpoint.