Zac Etheridge is in his first season with the Cardinals after being hired as cornerbacks coach on 2/13/26. He came to Arizona from the University of Miami (FL) where he was the defensive backs/defensive pass game coordinator in 2025. Etheridge has 13 years of coaching experience at the collegiate level, including 10 seasons coaching defensive backs.
Etheridge was also a two-time participant of the NFL's Bill Walsh Diversity Coaching Fellowship with Houston (2022) during OTAs/mini-camp and with the L.A. Chargers (2024) during training camp.
Last year, Etheridge helped Miami to an appearance in the College Football National Championship game as the Hurricanes ranked 5th in points allowed per game (14.0), tied for 9th in turnovers (25), 11th in opponent yards per game (292.0) and tied for 12th in INTs (16). Defensive backs Keionte Scott and Jakobe Thomas were named to the All-ACC second team while Zechariah Poyser and Damari Brown earned All-ACC honorable mention status.
Prior to Miami, Etheridge spent the 2024 season at the University of Houston in the same role. It was his second stint with the Cougars after serving as the team's cornerbacks coach in 2019. Houston's 2,266 passing yards allowed in 2024 were the fewest in 30 years (2,160 yards-1994), as the Cougars held opponents under 225 passing yards nine times (15th nationally) and intercepted passes in eight of 12 games, tied for the fifth most nationally by a Power Four program.
Etheridge spent three seasons (2021-23) at his alma mater, Auburn University, as the team's secondary coach and added the title of associate head coach his last two years. During his three seasons at Auburn, Etheridge mentored a pair of All-SEC defensive backs including 2023 second-team selection Jaylin Simpson, who ranked 19th in the country in INTs (4), and 2021 first-team honoree Roger McCreary, who led the SEC in passes defended per game (1.3).
In 2023, Auburn ranked third in the SEC in passing yards allowed (202.2) and INTs (12) while limiting opponents to fewer than 250 passing yards in 10 of its 13 games (15th nationally) and under 200 yards on seven occasions (20th nationally). According to Pro Football Focus, his DBs posted the nation's 15th-highest coverage grade (89.7) trailing only Alabama and Georgia in the SEC. CB D.J. James played all 12 games and recorded 38 tackles (30 solo), 3.5 tackles for loss, 10 passes defensed and two INTs. He ranked 10th nationally and sixth in the Power 4 among cornerbacks with an 88.9 coverage grade per PFF. Under Etheridge's tutelage, McCreary played all 12 games and posted 49 tackles (41 solo), two tackles for loss, a sack, 14 passes defensed, two INTs and recovered a fumble before being drafted in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft, becoming the fourth cornerback in Auburn history selected with one of the first 35 picks in the draft.
During his first stint at Houston, Etheridge mentored CBs Marcus Jones and Damarion Williams. Jones earned fourth-team All-American honors from PFF in 2020 after starting seven games and totaling 24 tackles, two tackles for loss, an INT and five passes defensed. Under two seasons of Etheridge's tutelage, Williams blossomed into an all-conference player in 2020, posting 27 tackles, two tackles for loss and a team-high seven passes defensed. Etheridge also played a key role in Houston's defensive turnaround in 2020, as the Cougars finished fourth in the AAC in total defense (398.5 ypg).
In December 2020, Etheridge was selected to the American Football Coaches Association 2021 "35 Under 35" Coaches Leadership Institute. The prestigious program is aimed at identifying and developing premier, future leaders in the football coaching profession and is part of the AFCA Convention.
Prior to his arrival at Houston, Etheridge spent the 2018 season at Louisiana as the defensive backs coach where he helped lead the Ragin' Cajuns to a spot in both the Sun Belt Conference Championship Game and the Cure Bowl. DB Deuce Wallace had a career season as he played in all 14 games and totaled 40 tackles, three tackles for loss, a sack, an INT, two passes defensed and a forced fumble.
Etheridge spent the previous two seasons (2016-17) at Western Carolina where he coached cornerbacks in 2016 before being elevated to a full-time position coaching outside linebackers in 2017. LB Tahjai Watt transitioned from defensive end to outside linebacker prior to the 2017 season and ended up setting a career-high in tackles (75) and also led the team in tackles for loss (9.5) and sacks (7.0) while being named first-team All-Southern Conference. In his first season with the Catamounts, Etheridge helped DB Fred Payne post 74 tackles (44 solo), 2.5 tackles for loss, two INTs and three passes defensed. DB Keion Crossen recorded a then career-high 61 tackles (43 solo) and added three tackles for loss, eight pass breakups, one INT and a fumble recovery. Crossen was drafted in the seventh round of the 2018 NFL Draft.
His coaching career began as a graduate assistant coach at Penn State under head coach Bill O'Brien, followed by two years as a defensive graduate assistant at Georgia Tech where he worked closely with the secondary. During his time at Georgia Tech, Etheridge worked with S Jamal Golden who was named to the 2014 All-ACC third-team after posting 61 tackles (43 solo), three passes defensed, three forced fumbles, one touchdown and tied for the team-lead with four INTs.
Etheridge was a four-year starter at defensive back at Auburn, overcoming a broken neck suffered in 2009 against Ole Miss to return as a team captain and helped lead the Tigers to the 2010 national championship. That season, he ranked second on the team with 69 tackles, added three INTs and returned a fumble 47 yards for a TD against Arkansas. A freshman All-American in 2007 after starting 12 games, he led Auburn with 75 tackles in 2008 and earned SEC Academic Honor Roll recognition in 2009. Etheridge later signed with the Oakland Raiders as an undrafted free agent in 2011 before transitioning into coaching following a knee injury.
A native of Troy, AL, Etheridge received the second annual James Owens Courage Award from Auburn in 2013. The award, named for the school's first African American football player, was established to honor a player who has shown courage in the face of adversity. Etheridge and his wife, Lainie, have a daughter, Mia and son, Enzo.
