Maryland football coaching search 2026: Candidates, hot board, names to watch
- On Wednesday, Maryland fired head coach Mike Locksley with five games remaining in the 2026 season, naming defensive coordinator Aazaar Abdul-Rahim as interim head coach.
- The decision followed Saturday's 37-30 Homecoming loss to Rutgers, which dropped Maryland to 2-5 and marked the team's 16th loss in their last 17 Big Ten conference games.
- Maryland also dismissed co-defensive coordinator Ted Monachino and faces an approximately $9.75 million buyout for Locksley, who compiled a 39-54 overall record including a 16-47 mark against Big Ten opponents.
- In a press release, Maryland Director of Athletics Jim Smith said, "Following thoughtful conversations with Coach Locksley, we agreed that a coaching change was in the best interest of Coach Locksley and the Maryland football program."
- As the first FBS program to make a coaching change this year, Maryland has a head start beginning its national search for a new leader during their bye week.
18 Articles
18 Articles
Maryland University Dispatches Cops on Their Own Students For Covering Mike Locksley's Firing News
When a college football coach is fired, the announcement is only the beginning of the fallout. Players are left facing an uncertain future, fans are desperate for answers, and reporters race to understand what the decision means for everyone involved. Behind every coaching change are people trying to make sense of what comes next, and […]
Maryland Called Cops On Student Journalists Reporting On Mike Locksley Firing
The Maryland football team fired head coach Mike Locksley on Wednesday to end his eight-year tenure. Student journalists posted up outside the facility in the aftermath hoping to grab comments from players. The police were called. The journalists were asked to vacate the premise. They detailed the ordeal on social media. The athletic department has […]
Police called on two Maryland student reporters covering Mike Locksley's firing outside football complex - NEW YORK TIMES POST
After losing five consecutive games, the Maryland athletic department announced Wednesday that it was moving on from head football coach Mike Locksley. The school described the decision as a ” mutual” agreement between both parties. When the Terrapins called a team meeting for Wednesday morning, the news had already been broken by multiple outlets that [...]
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