Maryland Parts Ways With Mike Locksley After Five Straight Losses

WHO:

ESPN - Athletic director Jim Smith said Maryland’s immediate responsibility was to provide stability, resources, guidance, and support for its players.

Pro Football Network - Maryland head coach Mike Locksley stepped down; Maryland fans celebrated his exit online.

Fox News - Aazaar Abdul-Rahim was named interim head coach of the Terrapins.

ESPN - Locksley, 56, was Maryland’s eighth-year coach. Athletic director Jim Smith announced the change; Maryland named longtime assistant Abdul-Rahim interim coach and began a national search for Locksley’s replacement.

ESPN - Abdul-Rahim is from Washington, D.C., and has worked for Jeff Hafley at Boston College, Nick Saban at Alabama, and as defensive coordinator at UMass. He was recently promoted to Maryland defensive coordinator after Locksley fired Ted Monachino.

WHAT:

ESPN - Jim Smith said Locksley strengthened Maryland’s connection throughout the state and region and made a lasting impact on the players he coached.

ESPN - Smith said Maryland expects to build a program that competes for championships and makes students, alumni, and supporters proud.

ESPN - Maryland recorded three winning seasons and three bowl victories from 2021-23 before consecutive four-win seasons.

Pro Football Network - Maryland was 2-5 when Locksley left.

NY Post - Locksley’s departure began the 2026-27 college football coaching carousel.

Fox News - Locksley left after five consecutive losses.

ESPN - Maryland dismissed Locksley after its 12th consecutive Big Ten defeat. He finished with a 39-54 record, including 10-21 since the start of the 2024 campaign.

ESPN - The Terrapins’ five-game losing streak included a 37-30 Homecoming loss to Rutgers, in which they conceded 24 unanswered second-half points. The loss was Maryland’s 20th in its last 22 Big Ten games.

ESPN - During the five-game skid, Maryland allowed 219 points. It ranked 133rd nationally in points allowed, at 33.3 per game, and 83rd in yards allowed.

ESPN - Maryland started with wins over Hampton and UConn, then lost to Virginia Tech, UCLA, Nebraska, Ohio State and Rutgers. In those five losses, it allowed an average of 43.8 points and lost by an average margin of 24.6 points.

ESPN - Maryland had back-to-back 4-8 seasons in 2024 and 2025, and was winless in its previous 13 matchups against Power 4 opponents.

ESPN - Locksley said, “Maryland football and this community mean a great deal to me,” and expressed gratitude for the opportunity, relationships with players, staff, alumni and supporters, and his continued investment in players’ success and well-being.

ESPN - Smith said, “We agreed that a coaching change was in the best interest of Coach Locksley and the Maryland football program.” He thanked Locksley for his dedication and care for student-athletes and said the department would support players and seek a coach who could lead a championship-contending program.

WHERE:

ESPN - Locksley had multiple Maryland assistant-coaching stints from 1997-2015 and served as the program’s interim coach in 2015.

ESPN - The program is at the University of Maryland. Maryland’s loss to Rutgers was a home Homecoming game; the Terrapins were scheduled to visit Illinois.

WHEN:

ESPN - Locksley secured Maryland’s permanent head-coaching job ahead of the 2019 campaign after three seasons on Alabama’s coaching staff.

ESPN - Locksley was set to earn $6.4 million in his eighth season under a contract running through 2028; he was owed a $9.75 million buyout. Sources told ESPN that the contract had no offset or mitigation, requiring Maryland to pay the full buyout even if he took another job.

ESPN - Maryland was on a Week 8 bye and was scheduled to host Illinois on Oct. 31.

WHY:

ESPN - Smith said the coaching change was in the best interests of Locksley and the program. The article reported the decision followed a five-game losing streak, an 0-4 start in Big Ten play, and poor results after consecutive 4-8 seasons.

HOW:

ESPN - Maryland appointed Abdul-Rahim interim coach while conducting a national search. The article said his local ties and role in the program made him a figure who could help retain top talent.

ESPN - Maryland added 15 transfers and the nation’s 37th-ranked recruiting class during the offseason, including No. 2 overall prospect Zion Elee. Locksley’s local recruiting connections also helped Maryland sign Elee and starting quarterback Malik Washington.

Maryland has dismissed football coach Mike Locksley after a five-game losing streak, naming longtime assistant Aazaar Abdul-Rahim interim coach and launching a national search. The Terrapins were 2-5, had lost 12 straight Big Ten games and were winless in their previous 13 matchups against Power 4 opponents. Their recent slide followed consecutive four-win seasons, despite three winning seasons and three bowl victories from 2021 through 2023. Locksley finished with a 39-54 record after taking the permanent job before the 2019 season. Athletic director Jim Smith said the change was in the best interests of both Locksley and the program, while crediting the coach’s impact on Maryland and its players. Smith said the university’s immediate priority is supporting its players and building a championship-contending team. Abdul-Rahim, a Washington, D.C., native, recently became defensive coordinator and has coached at Alabama, Boston College and UMass.