The natural next step after hanging up the cleats is for players to transition into coaching. But unlike any other ex-Cane it was an anomaly. These days you won’t find anyone working for a college or professional program who didn’t play the game themselves. The Miami Hurricanes head coach, Mario Cristobal who has built the program after meticulous roster construction. But after a season that ended in CFP heartbreak and a mass exodus of talent, the Hurricanes have had to adapt. Losing key pieces to the NFL and the transfer portal has made this offseason an uphill battle. Yet, in the face of adversity, Cristobal has turned to a familiar name, a rising force in the front office who has quickly climbed the ranks in Miami. It’s a move that speaks volumes about the Hurricanes’ vision for the future, even as roster concerns—especially at wide receiver—continue to loom over the program.
But although after the departures Hurricanes’ defensive players have plenty of new coaches to get to know. Less than a year after joining the Hurricanes as an assistant director of player personnel, Devontay Love-Taylor has been handed a promotion, now stepping in as Miami’s director of player personnel. The move, first reported by 247Sports’ Matt Zenitz, underscores the faith Mario Cristobal has in his staff to keep the program steady amid uncertainty. Love-Taylor’s rise has been nothing short of meteoric, and it’s no surprise given his deep ties to Florida football. Having played both at FIU and Florida State, he understands the recruiting landscape as well as anyone.
This promotion doesn’t just reward his quick ascent—it positions him as a key architect of Miami’s roster in a period of transition. And with the Hurricanes needing to replenish their receiver corps after losing Xavier Restrepo and Jacolby George to the NFL, as well as Isaiah Horton transferring to Alabama, his job just got a lot more important. Love-Taylor’s background makes him uniquely suited for this role. He was a cornerstone of FIU’s offensive line, earning all-conference honors in 2019 as the Panthers ranked sixth nationally in sacks allowed per game. His ability to assess and develop talent comes from experience, not just observation. After transferring to Florida State, he became a stabilizing presence up front, playing in 32 games and making 16 starts.
Miami is promoting Devontay Love-Taylor to director of player personnel, sources tell @CBSSports/@247Sports.
Promotion comes a year after the ex-Florida State All-ACC offensive lineman joined the Miami staff as an assistant director of player personnel. Before Miami, he was… pic.twitter.com/VN0E2HtxLd
— Matt Zenitz (@mzenitz) March 17, 2025
The blend of playing experience and recruiting acumen makes him an asset Miami can lean on as they navigate a critical stretch in their rebuild. He’s been in the trenches, quite literally, and understands what it takes to shape a competitive roster. His connection to the Miami program, however, comes with a twist of irony. Love-Taylor was on the opposing sideline when Florida State delivered the knockout punch that sent Miami spiraling into a coaching change. The infamous ‘4th & 14’ play in 2021—a Jordan Travis-to-Andrew Parchment miracle—sealed a 31-28 Seminoles victory, ultimately leading to the firing of then-Hurricanes coach Manny Diaz.
That loss forced Miami’s hand, and in came Mario Cristobal, lured away from Oregon to resurrect a once-proud program. Fast forward a few years, and now Love-Taylor finds himself playing a pivotal role in Cristobal’s rebuild. The very player who was part of the loss that led to a coaching overhaul is now one of the architects of Miami’s future. But despite the reshuffling off the field, there’s no escaping Miami’s glaring need for playmakers. On3’s JD PicKell emphasized the urgency, noting that Miami must act quickly to address its depleted receiving corps. The Hurricanes’ top three targets from last season are gone, leaving a void that must be filled if they hope to stay competitive.
While recruiting and the transfer portal provide opportunities to reload, the challenge will be finding instant-impact players capable of producing from day one. Love-Taylor’s role in identifying and securing those pieces will be crucial, as Miami can’t afford to let offensive shortcomings derail their progress.
Cristobal has built his reputation on discipline, toughness, and an eye for talent, and his latest move signals confidence in the infrastructure he’s assembling.
Everyone is new in Mario Cristobal’s Canes defense
After a frustrating 2024 season where defensive struggles kept Miami out of the ACC title game and College Football Playoff, Mario Cristobal decided enough was enough. His solution? A near-total defensive staff reset.
Only one assistant from last year’s unit survived the shake-up—defensive line coach Jason Taylor. The rest? Completely new faces, new voices, and a new approach. Leading the charge is new defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Corey Hetherman, who wasted no time assembling his staff. He brought in Damione Lewis to coach the defensive tackles, Zac Etheridge to oversee the defensive backs, and Will Harris to handle the safeties. With all the change, Hetherman knows the key is building chemistry fast.
“Everyone’s new,” he said. “Even whether you’ve been here, you’ve been here two years, you’ve been here three years, it’s a different defense, it’s a different style.” It’s not just about learning a new system—it’s about getting every level of the defense on the same page. “Just for everyone, getting to know one another, getting to know the rooms, getting everyone to connect. That’s what it’s all about—getting the DBs to play with the linebackers, the linebackers to communicate with the D-line.”
Lossing top WRs really had coach Mario change the whole coaching staff.
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