Maryland Fires Head Coach Mike Locksley After 2-5 Start
Maryland dismissed head coach Mike Locksley following a 2-5 start in the 2026 season, making him the first Power Four coach fired this year.
Maryland has fired head coach Mike Locksley after the Terrapins’ 2-5 start to the season, the school announced on Wednesday. This decision follows Maryland’s fifth consecutive loss, a 37-30 defeat to Rutgers during their homecoming game on Saturday.
Jim Smith, the athletic director, 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.” The university has begun its search for Locksley’s successor and plans to invest in improving the football program.
Locksley took over as head coach in December 2018, finishing with a 39-54 overall record. His peak came from 2021 to 2023 when Maryland achieved seven or more wins each season and participated in bowl games. However, the program’s performance declined, with records of 4-8 in the last two seasons.
Despite efforts to enhance resources for football, including hiring a new offensive coordinator and retaining talented players, the team’s performance faltered this season. Locksley holds a 2-20 record in the Big Ten since 2024.
Maryland will pay Locksley a buyout of $9.75 million without offset provisions for another coaching position. He was earning $6.4 million this season, making him one of the highest-paid coaches in the conference.
Aazaar Abdul-Rahim, previously the defensive coordinator, has been appointed interim head coach for the remainder of the season. His first game will be against Illinois on October 31.
As Maryland seeks a new direction, potential candidates for the head coaching position include Charles Huff of Memphis, Manny Diaz of Duke, and Dan Mullen of UNLV, all of whom have the experience and success desired by Maryland.
Maryland’s firing of Locksley marks the first coaching change in a Power Four program this season, leading to speculation about potential shifts in college football coaching nationwide.
In a separate incident, student journalists attempting to gather comments from players were approached by police after an athletics staff member reported them for questioning.
