Terry Jefferson is entering his first season as cornerbacks coach in 2026.
Jefferson is in his fifth year on staff, having joined the program in 2020. He spent two years working in recruiting and personnel before assisting with the defensive back room in 2022.
In 2023, Jefferson departed Miami for a two-year stint as cornerbacks coach at Jacksonville State (2023-24) before returning to the Hurricanes as nickels coach prior to the 2025 season.
Jefferson was part of a dazzling turnaround for the Miami defense en route to the College Football Playoff National Championship Game in 2025.
Miami was one of only 11 teams in all of FBS and four in Power-4 to improve its year-over-year scoring defense by double digits from 2024 to 2025. The Hurricanes ranked among the conference and national leaders in nearly every defensive category.
In his first season on Jacksonville State's staff, he tutored Derek Carter to a Second-Team All-Conference USA season recording eight pass breakups to lead the team and place third in the conference. The Gamecocks allowed the second fewest passing touchdowns in the conference in 2023 and were second in the league in interceptions with 16. Jax State went 9-4 with a win in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl.
During his first stint in Miami, the Hurricanes enjoyed early success. They posted an 8-3 record in 2020 that included a 7-2 mark in ACC play and earned an appearance in the Cheez-It Bowl.
Jefferson played his college football at Florida A&M in Tallahassee, where he was a team captain and a three-time All-MEAC selection and an All-American for the Rattlers. He earned third-team honors in 2016 and 2018 before earning his way onto the All-MEAC First Team in 2019, when he was also a BOXTOROW All-American.
He amassed 217 tackles over his career at FAMU and led the Rattlers in interceptions in 2016 and 2017.
The Miami native earned his degree in Exercise Science from Florida A&M in 2018 and then earned his Master’s in Sport Management from FAMU in 2019.
Jefferson also had a storied prep career, starting for four years for Booker T Washington High School in Miami, who he helped guide to a No. 1 national ranking during his career.
Jefferson and his wife, Danielle, have a son, Terry III.