Maryland dismissed Mike Locksley on Wednesday after the Terrapins stumbled to a 2-5 start this season, including a 37-30 homecoming loss to Rutgers. The university announced the firing following a series of disappointing results that left the program near the bottom of the Big Ten standings.
Athletic director Jim Smith said in a statement, "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." Smith added that he and university president Darryll J. Pines are "fully aligned in our commitment to providing the investment, infrastructure and resources required for Maryland Football to succeed."
Locksley, who took over at Maryland in December 2018, compiled a 39-54 record over seven-plus seasons. His best years were from 2021 to 2023, when the Terrapins won at least seven games each season and appeared in three straight bowl games. The 2023 Music City Bowl victory over Auburn capped a hopeful 8-5 finish.
However, Maryland declined in 2024 and 2025 with records of 4-8 each year. Despite increased financial backing for the 2026 season, including hiring new offensive coordinator Clint Trickett and securing top-five recruit Zion Elee, the team faltered. The Terps dropped home games to Virginia Tech, UCLA, and Rutgers. The 54-3 defeat to UCLA under first-year coach Bob Chesney was particularly damaging and appeared to seal Locksley’s fate.
Since 2024, Locksley failed to win a Power Four conference game, going 2-20 in the Big Ten. His contract included a base salary of $6.4 million for this season, with Maryland on the hook for over $9 million in buyout payments.
Maryland is the first Power Four program to make a coaching change this season, following a wave of firings at Penn State, Florida, and Virginia Tech last year. Defensive coordinator Aazaar Abdul-Rahim has been named interim head coach, with his first game in charge set for October 31 against Illinois at College Park.
Locksley, a Washington, D.C. native, arrived with strong local recruiting ties and a reputation earned as Alabama’s offensive coordinator under Nick Saban, where he won the Broyles Award as the nation’s best assistant coach. Maryland initially appeared a promising destination, but early challenges with limited resources and the complexities of NIL (name, image, likeness) regulations hampered progress. The program had to do more with less until recent financial support lifted it out of the Big Ten’s lowest spending tier.
Maryland’s increased investment should make the program attractive to candidates seeking a Power Four opening. The school will begin its search for a permanent replacement immediately. Among potential candidates mentioned in media speculation are Wake Forest’s Jake Dickert, New Mexico’s Jason Eck, and UNLV’s Dan Mullen, although none have confirmed interest.
The future of Maryland’s roster is uncertain. Quarterback Malik Washington, who threw for 2,963 yards as a true freshman but has regressed this year, remains a player of interest. The coaching transition will have a significant impact on whether Washington stays and how the offense evolves.
Defensive talent remains on the roster, including Sidney Stewart and Daniel Wingate. Zahir Mathis, who suffered a season-ending injury before the year, was expected to be a standout. Maryland spent heavily in the offseason to retain its roster, but the results on the field have not matched the investment.
Locksley’s departure closes a chapter that began with promise but ended in frustration. Abdul-Rahim now faces the task of steadying a team with untapped potential as Maryland looks toward its next head coach and the remainder of the 2026 campaign.
According to CBS.
