Sports · American Football · 1 hr ago
Maryland fires Mike Locksley after 2-5 start to season
Maryland fired football coach Mike Locksley on Wednesday after the team started the 2026 season 2-5.
The Terrapins, who play in the Big Ten, lost 37-30 at home to Rutgers on Saturday.
Locksley had a 39-54 record in more than seven seasons, including back-to-back 4-8 finishes in 2024 and 2025.
The team had lost 12 straight Big Ten games, and had dropped 20 of its previous 22 in the conference.
Maryland had reached bowl games for three straight seasons from 2021 to 2023, but results later declined despite new investment in the football program and promising recruits.
Defensive coordinator Aazaar Abdul-Rahim will serve as interim coach, starting with the game against Illinois on October 31.
Maryland must now choose a new head coach, and the school owes Locksley a buyout of slightly less than $10 million, according to ESPN.
Maryland fired head coach Mike Locksley on Wednesday after the Terrapins opened the 2026 season 2-5.
The team’s latest loss was a 37-30 defeat by Rutgers at home on Saturday.
Locksley had led Maryland since late 2018, and the sources give different career records: CBS Sports says 39-54, while ESPN says 38-49.
Maryland had back-to-back eight-win seasons in 2022 and 2023, but has struggled in Big Ten play since then.
Defensive coordinator Aazaar Abdul-Rahim will serve as interim coach, starting with the Oct. 31 game against Illinois.
- Who
- Maryland fired head coach Mike Locksley. Defensive coordinator Aazaar Abdul-Rahim will take over as interim coach.
- What
- Locksley was dismissed after Maryland started the 2026 season 2-5.
- When
- Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026.
- Where
- Maryland; the Terrapins’ next game is in College Park.
- Why
- The team’s poor results included a 2-5 start and struggles in Big Ten play.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Maryland hired Locksley as head coach.
Maryland won at least seven games and reached a bowl game in each of three consecutive seasons.
Maryland went 4-8 in each season, according to CBS Sports.
Maryland lost 37-30 to Rutgers at home.
Maryland fired Locksley and named defensive coordinator Aazaar Abdul-Rahim interim coach.
Abdul-Rahim is scheduled to lead Maryland against Illinois in College Park.
- 2026 start
- 2-5
- Rutgers game
- Maryland lost 37-30 at home
- Locksley tenure began
- December 2018
- Interim coach
- Aazaar Abdul-Rahim
- Next game
- Illinois, Oct. 31, in College Park
- Buyout
- More than $9 million, according to CBS Sports
5 sources
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