Mario Cristobal has fired defensive coordinator Lance Guidry after an epic collapse to end the 2024 season.
Mario Cristobal moved fast this time around and the news has broken that Lance Guidry has been fired. Guidry, the Hurricanes defensive coordinator the past two seasons, had seen his side of the ball completely regress in year two.
BREAKING: Miami is firing defensive coordinator Lance Guidry, per @PeteNakos_ https://t.co/H60wlvO3Dw pic.twitter.com/R3cYeqrS5S
— On3 (@On3sports) December 31, 2024
Guidry came to Miami from Marshall where he had served as the defensive coordinator and safeties coach prior to taking the same position in Coral Gables.
The Hurricanes defense improved from 2022 to 2023 after the departure of former DC Kevin Steele and the hiring of Guidry. In ‘22, the Miami defense was 74th in SP+ defense under Steele while Guidry’s Marshall defense finished 8th in FBS.
Mario Cristobal’s statement on Lance Guidry’s firing. pic.twitter.com/tyLY4kO8Zf
— Adam Lichtenstein (@ABLichtenstein) December 31, 2024
The ‘Canes defense drastically improved after year one of the Guidry Era and finished 40th in SP+, while Marshall’s defense crashed back down to reality finishing 98th.
However, the Hurricanes regressed in 2024 by sliding down to 42nd after the regular season and most certainly will post a lower final SP+ defense rating after the 42-point fiasco in the 2024 Pop-Tarts Bowl against Iowa State.
Most concerning is that the weakest position on the defense was the safety room, which is Guidry’s speciality. The Hurricanes have signed three more defensive backs in the transfer portal this off-season and Miami needs to return the defense to a proper standard in order to compete for the ACC Championship without Cam Ward at quarterback in 2025.