Maryland fired head coach Mike Locksley on Oct. 21, 2026, a day after the program’s fifth consecutive loss dropped the Terrapins to 2-5 on the season. Co-defensive coordinator Aazaar Abdul-Rahim was named interim head coach, and the school informed players of the decision at a team meeting scheduled for 11:30 a.m.
Locksley took over the program in December 2018, a month after coach DJ Durkin was fired in the aftermath of offensive lineman Jordan McNair’s death from heatstroke in an offseason workout. Athletic director Jim Smith now faces the first major hire of his tenure, which began last year.
The Main Development
Locksley’s firing followed a 37-30 home loss to Rutgers on Saturday during Homecoming, a game in which Maryland blew a 10-point halftime lead and surrendered 24 unanswered points in the second half. It was Rutgers’ first win of the season over a Football Bowl Subdivision opponent.
Maryland and Locksley “mutually agreed to part ways,” according to the school’s announcement. Smith said in a statement, “We agreed that a coaching change was in the best interest of Coach Locksley and the Maryland football program. On behalf of the University of Maryland, I want to thank Michael for his dedication to our football program and the genuine care he showed our student-athletes.”
Locksley, in his own statement, said, “Maryland football and this community mean a great deal to me. I am grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of this program for so many years, and for the relationships I have built with our players, staff, alumni and supporters.”
What It Means For The Program
Abdul-Rahim takes over a defense that has allowed 219 points during the five-game losing streak and ranks 133rd nationally in points allowed at 33.3 per game. Maryland has lost 20 of its past 22 Big Ten games and started conference play 0-4 this season, part of a stretch that has seen the Terrapins go 1-8 in Big Ten play in back-to-back years.
Smith said in his statement that the school expects more from the position going forward. “Our expectation is to build a program that competes for championships and makes our students, alumni and supporters proud,” he said. “We understand the responsibility that comes with leading Maryland Football, and we are committed to finding the right person to guide the Terrapins into the future.”
Context: Record, Buyout And Background
Locksley finishes with a 39-54 overall record, including a 10-21 mark since the start of the 2024 season. He went 1-5 as interim head coach in 2015 before returning on a permanent basis in 2019, following three seasons as Alabama’s offensive coordinator. Locksley’s best seasons came with quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa, who followed him from Alabama and helped Maryland post three straight winning seasons and three straight bowl victories from 2021-23, a first in program history.
But the Terrapins never threatened the Big Ten’s top tier, and the program has gone 4-8 in both 2024 and 2025. Maryland is winless in its past 13 games against Power 4 opponents, including back-to-back home losses this season to Virginia Tech and UCLA, two teams led by first-year coaches. The loss to Virginia Tech also snapped a 20-game Maryland winning streak against nonconference opponents.
Locksley was set to earn $6.4 million in what was his eighth season, on a contract running through 2028. He is owed a buyout of $9.75 million with no offset or mitigation, meaning Maryland pays the full amount regardless of where he coaches next.
In his farewell statement, Locksley added, “My connection to this region and the people who make this community special is something I will always value. I appreciate everyone who has supported me and our entire program during my time at Maryland, and I wish the players, staff and the entire Maryland football community success in the future.”
What’s Next
Abdul-Rahim will lead Maryland for the remainder of the season as the school searches for Locksley’s permanent successor, the first major coaching hire for Smith as athletic director. Maryland is on a bye this week.
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