Maryland football parts ways with head coach Mike Locksley

The University of Maryland head football coach Mike Locksley is leaving the program after a 2-5 start to the 2026 season. Fox News and CBS Sports reported that the university fired Locksley, while University of Maryland Athletics and FOX 5 DC reported that the school and Locksley mutually agreed to part ways or that he is stepping down. Fox News stated that assistant coach Aazaar Abdul-Rahim will serve as the interim head coach for the Terrapins. [1][2][3][5]

The decision follows five consecutive losses for the program after winning the first two games of the season against Hampton and UConn, according to Fox News. CBS Sports reported that the final game of Locksley's tenure was a 37-30 home loss to Rutgers inside SECU Stadium during homecoming. [1][2]

Locksley finished his head coaching stint at Maryland with a 39-54 record over seven-plus seasons after arriving in December 2018, CBS Sports reported. Fox News noted that Locksley previously served as Maryland's interim head coach in 2015 before returning to the team in 2019. CBS Sports reported that his peak stretch with the Terrapins occurred from 2021 to 2023, when the team achieved three consecutive bowl appearances, culminating in an 8-5 season following a Music City Bowl victory over Auburn. [1][2]

Locksley is a Washington, D.C. native who played safety at Towson University from 1988 to 1991. He began his coaching career at Towson in 1992 and held positions at the U.S. Naval Academy, the University of Florida, the University of Illinois, and the University of New Mexico. [8][10]