The Arizona Cardinals have announced their coordinators, but they have not announced all their assistants. We know some names, and others are coming in. They will have a new cornerbacks coach in 2026.
According to CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz, the Cardinals are poaching a second coach from the University of Miami coaching staff. After reportedly getting Matt Merritt to be their running backs coach, Zac Etheridge, Miami’s defensive pass game coordinator, will be the Cardinals’ cornerbacks coach.
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Ryan Smith was previously the cornerbacks coach, but he landed with the Dallas Cowboys this offseason.
Etheridge is making the leap from college to the NFL for the first time.
He has been in the college ranks since 2012.
Zac Etheridge coaching career
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2012: Graduate assistant, Penn State
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2013-2014: Graduate assistant, Georgia Tech
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2016-2017: Defensive backs and outside linebackers coach, Western Carolina
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2018: Defensive backs coach, Louisiana
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2019-2020: Cornerbacks coach, Houston
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2021-2023: Associate head coach, secondary coach, Auburn
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2024: Defensive backs coach, Houston
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2025: Defensive backs coach and defensive pass game coordinator, Miami
Miami had a superb defense and made it to the College Football Playoff final.
The full Cardinals staff will likely be announced in a couple of weeks.
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This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: Arizona Cardinals to make Zac Etheridge CBs coach
