Brian Kelly has emerged as the leading candidate for the Maryland Terrapins’ head coaching job after interviewing with the university this week. The former LSU and Notre Dame coach has made a direct pitch to Maryland officials, presenting a detailed plan to elevate the program in the Big Ten and assembling potential staff members in anticipation of a swift hiring.
Maryland fired Mike Locksley on October 21 following a disappointing 2-5 start to the season that capped back-to-back 4-8 finishes. Aazaar Abdul-Rahim is currently serving as interim coach. Kelly, 65, was dismissed by LSU on October 26, 2025, and has since worked as a CBS Sports studio analyst. His interest in the Maryland job surfaced earlier this week through InsideMDSports, with confirmation of his interview coming from On3’s Pete Nakos on Saturday.
Kelly’s discussions with Maryland officials stretched through the first half of November and included meetings off campus, according to USA TODAY Sports’ John Brice. The coach outlined a roster strategy aimed at pushing Maryland into the upper half of the Big Ten standings. He also indicated he has already reached out to potential assistants and front-office personnel to quickly build a staff if hired.
A notable part of Kelly’s appeal is his long-standing relationship with Kevin Plank, the Under Armour founder and former Maryland football player. Plank’s company outfits both the Terrapins and Kelly’s former team, Notre Dame, and has NIL agreements with many young athletes. For a program in need of a rapid rebuild, Kelly’s established connection with Under Armour offers an advantage in recruiting and funding.
In an October 27 interview on College Sports on SiriusXM, Kelly singled out Maryland as an attractive destination among the Power 4 openings that season, which also included NC State and Baylor. “From a conference standpoint, the Big Ten has obviously proved itself to have that kind of appeal, right, with Maryland. It is a fertile recruiting area; there’s no doubt,” Kelly said. “That DMV area is a really good recruiting area. I think that they’ve done great things in terms of upgrading facilities.”
Maryland is not the only program moving on from its head coach this year. NC State and Baylor have also parted ways with their leaders, with each school searching for a new direction.
LSU confirmed last November that Kelly was fired without cause and that he is owed about $54 million, paid in monthly installments through 2031. His contract has an offset clause, meaning any salary Kelly earns from a new coaching job reduces the amount LSU must pay. Those monthly payments total approximately $800,000. Maryland would not need to pay Kelly more than that to effectively reduce LSU’s obligation rather than increase Kelly’s total income.
Kelly sued LSU last fall to secure the full amount of his buyout and is already receiving those payments. His ongoing staff discussions, roster planning, and off-campus meetings with Maryland suggest he is motivated by the opportunity itself, not just the financial terms.
On November 10, Kelly spoke again on SiriusXM about his coaching future. “This is not, you know, a mini commercial for Brian Kelly. This is just, you know, giving you the understanding of what it’s been like. I want to listen to opportunities if they’re available and if the fit is right,” he said. “I would love to be able to be a head football coach again, now it’s just a matter of if there is a right fit out there for me.”
Maryland would gain a coach with nearly 300 career wins and the all-time victories record at Notre Dame. Kelly’s willingness to accept Maryland’s salary offer without financial loss adds to his suitability.
Other candidates reported by Nakos include Northwestern offensive coordinator Chip Kelly and Indiana coordinators Bryant Haines and Mike Shanahan. However, Brian Kelly’s interview and ongoing talks position him at the forefront of Maryland’s search as the program looks to rebuild.
According to Yahoo Sports.
