Mike Locksley Is Gone. Now What? The Maryland Terrapins Must Get This Hire Right

By Charles Harris | Ravori Sports

Mike Locksley is gone. Now what?

For Maryland football fans who have spent years waiting for the Terrapins to become a consistent winner in the Big Ten, that question matters more than anything else right now. The university and Locksley have agreed to part ways after another disappointing season, ending his tenure as head coach in College Park. The decision comes after Maryland fell to 2-5 in 2026 and suffered five consecutive losses, including a frustrating 37-30 homecoming defeat against Rutgers.

The writing was on the wall. Maryland held a 10-point halftime lead against the Scarlet Knights, only to watch that advantage disappear in the second half. Once again, the Terps showed flashes of potential without delivering the complete performance necessary to win a football game. For a program that needed to demonstrate meaningful progress this season, losing at home to Rutgers was a devastating blow.

The question is no longer whether Mike Locksley should remain the head coach. That chapter is closed. The question is whether Maryland can finally find someone capable of taking this program to the next level.

As a Maryland football fan, I have reached the point where talking about potential is no longer enough. Potential does not win Big Ten games. Potential does not fill the stands at SECU Stadium. Potential does not keep talented players from considering other programs. Maryland needs results, and the next coaching hire must reflect that reality.

The Mike Locksley Era: Promise Without Enough Progress

Locksley finished his Maryland tenure with a reported 39-54 record across seven-plus seasons as head coach. His accomplishments deserve recognition, particularly the three consecutive bowl victories from 2021 through 2023. Those teams gave Maryland fans something to celebrate and demonstrated that the Terrapins could build a respectable program.

The 2021 season ended with a 7-6 record and a bowl victory. Maryland followed that campaign with back-to-back 8-5 seasons in 2022 and 2023, winning its bowl games in both years. For the first time in program history, the Terrapins captured three consecutive bowl victories. Taulia Tagovailoa helped energize the offense, and the program appeared to be moving in the right direction.

That stretch was the strongest argument in Locksley's favor. Maryland had recruited talented players, developed an entertaining passing attack and demonstrated that it could finish seasons with winning records. After years of instability, there was finally a reason to believe the Terps might establish themselves as a competitive Big Ten program.

But a three-year stretch of winning seasons is not the same as building a sustainable winner.

Maryland followed those campaigns with losing seasons in 2024 and 2025, finishing 4-8 in each year. The 2026 season then brought more frustration. The Terps opened with expectations of improvement but stumbled into a five-game losing streak that ultimately ended Locksley's tenure.

The biggest problem was the lack of consistency against conference competition. Maryland struggled to compete with the Big Ten's strongest programs and failed to establish itself as a team that opponents needed to fear. The program's difficulties became especially concerning as the conference expanded and the level of competition increased.

Maryland is not Ohio State, Michigan or Oregon when it comes to football resources and national reputation. Nobody should pretend that building a championship contender in College Park is an easy assignment. But that cannot become an excuse for repeated disappointment.

The Terrapins play in the Big Ten, have access to a major recruiting region and represent a respected university. The location provides opportunities to recruit Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The next coach must turn those advantages into a competitive roster.

Locksley deserves credit for his service to the university, his relationships with players and the three bowl victories. However, the program needed more than occasional progress. It needed a sustained winning identity, and that never materialized.

The Big Ten Has Passed Maryland By

Maryland's conference record became one of the clearest signs of the program's limitations. The Terps went just 16-47 in Big Ten play during Locksley's tenure, a record that explains why fans grew increasingly impatient.

The Big Ten is a different challenge now. With the addition of nationally prominent programs, the conference has become deeper and more competitive. Maryland cannot expect to compete simply by showing up with a few talented players and hoping the game breaks its way.

The Terps need better line play, more consistent quarterback development, a defense that can get stops when it matters and an offense capable of sustaining drives against quality opponents. They also need depth. Injuries are inevitable during a college football season, and a roster without enough dependable replacements will eventually struggle.

The 2026 season exposed those concerns again. Maryland lost close games, surrendered momentum and failed to turn promising stretches into victories. The loss to Rutgers was particularly painful because the Terps had an opportunity to protect their home field and stop the downward spiral.

Instead, the second half became another reminder of the problems that defined the end of the Locksley era.

This is why the next hire cannot simply be someone who talks about recruiting Maryland and restoring pride. Every coaching candidate will say those things. The athletic department must identify someone with a plan for building a roster, developing players and winning against conference opponents.

Maryland needs a coach who understands that the job is not merely to make the Terps competitive for two quarters. The job is to win football games.

Malik Washington and the Future of the Offense

One of the most important issues facing Maryland's next coach is the development and retention of quarterback Malik Washington. The young quarterback has shown promise, but Maryland's recent struggles have made it difficult to determine how quickly he can become a dependable Big Ten starter.

Washington has had moments when his arm talent and athletic ability have been obvious. However, inconsistency has also been part of the story. The coaching staff must determine whether his struggles stem from mechanics, decision-making, offensive design, supporting talent or some combination of those factors.

The next head coach must make that evaluation honestly.

Maryland cannot afford to waste another season hoping a quarterback suddenly figures everything out without providing the right coaching and supporting cast. The offensive line must protect him, the receivers must make plays and the play-calling must give him a reasonable chance to succeed.

If Washington remains in College Park, the next staff must build a development plan around his strengths while addressing his weaknesses. If he decides to explore other opportunities, Maryland must be prepared to recruit or acquire another quarterback capable of competing immediately.

The transfer portal has changed college football, making roster management almost as important as traditional recruiting. The next coach must understand how to retain valuable players, identify experienced transfers and develop younger talent.

Maryland cannot rebuild by losing its best players every offseason and starting over. Stability matters, and so does giving players a compelling reason to believe the program is moving forward.

Mike Locksley Is Gone—Now What?

This is where athletic director Jim Smith faces the biggest decision of his tenure. Maryland needs a national search that prioritizes qualifications over familiarity, relationships or a desire to make a quick announcement.

The school has said it will begin a comprehensive search. That search must produce a coach who can recruit at a high level, build an effective staff, develop quarterbacks and establish a culture of accountability.

One potential candidate to watch is Jake Dickert, the head coach at Wake Forest. Dickert has built competitive teams at programs that do not possess the same resources as the sport's traditional powers. His experience developing a program and competing in a major conference could make him an intriguing option. The question is whether Maryland can convince him that College Park offers the right opportunity.

Charles Huff, currently at Memphis, is another name worth considering. Huff has Maryland ties and experience building winning teams at the Group of Six level. His recruiting connections in the region could help the Terps strengthen their presence in the DMV. However, Maryland must determine whether his experience translates into the sustained success needed in the Big Ten.

Billy Napier, now at James Madison, could also enter the conversation. His success at Louisiana demonstrated his ability to build a winning program, while his experience at Florida gave him a look at the demands of coaching in a major conference. Maryland would need to examine his Florida tenure carefully and determine whether he could bring a more effective approach to College Park.

Dan Mullen, the UNLV head coach and former Florida and Mississippi State coach, has a track record of developing productive offenses and quarterbacks. That background could appeal to a Maryland program seeking to maximize Washington's potential. Still, the athletic department would need to assess his recruiting approach and whether his overall philosophy fits the program's needs.

Then there is Brian Kelly, the former Notre Dame and LSU head coach. Kelly brings substantial experience running high-profile programs and recruiting at a national level. His résumé would make him a major name for Maryland to explore, although the school would have to determine whether the financial commitment and expectations could align.

These are potential candidates, not confirmed finalists. Maryland should cast a wide net rather than limit itself to a handful of familiar names. The best choice may be someone who has not yet become the focus of public speculation.

The athletic department must also be prepared to invest. Hiring a good coach is only the beginning. Maryland needs competitive assistant-coach salaries, recruiting resources, player development, strength and conditioning, and the infrastructure required to retain talent.

A new head coach cannot overcome every disadvantage alone. If Maryland wants better results, the administration must support that ambition with action.

The Interim Coach and the Players Still Here

While the search unfolds, Aazaar Abdul-Rahim will serve as interim head coach. His immediate responsibility is to provide stability, keep the locker room together and give the players a reason to compete through the remainder of the season.

The players did not make the decision to change coaches, and they should not be treated as disposable pieces in the transition. They deserve honest communication about the program's future and an opportunity to demonstrate what they can do under the interim staff.

Maryland also needs to evaluate its current roster without allowing the coaching search to become a distraction. Which players can contribute to a winning team? Which positions need immediate upgrades? Where does the program have promising young talent, and where must it bring in experienced help?

Those questions should be answered before the next coach begins assembling a plan.

The interim period is not simply a waiting game. It is an opportunity to assess the roster, protect recruiting relationships and begin preparing for the offseason. Maryland cannot afford to lose valuable weeks while other programs pursue the same players and coaches.

Final Verdict: No More Excuses, Maryland

Mike Locksley is gone, but the larger problem remains. Maryland football must prove that it can become more than a program that occasionally reaches a bowl game before sliding back into disappointment.

Locksley's tenure included real accomplishments. Three consecutive bowl victories should not be dismissed, and his contribution to the university deserves acknowledgment. But the overall record, the struggles in conference play and the repeated inability to sustain progress made a change necessary.

Now comes the hard part.

Jim Smith must find a coach who understands the challenge, embraces the recruiting opportunities in the region and knows how to build a team capable of competing in the Big Ten. The university must give that coach the resources to succeed, and the players must be developed into a cohesive roster rather than a collection of individual talents.

Maryland does not need another slogan. It needs a plan, investment and results.

As a Maryland fan, I want to see the Terrapins become a team that opponents take seriously, a team that protects its home field and a team that does not collapse when adversity arrives. I want to see recruiting talent turn into victories and promising seasons turn into sustained success.

The Mike Locksley era is over. The next chapter begins now.

Maryland, get this hire right. The fan base has waited long enough.

— Charles Harris, Ravori Sports