Maryland football is bringing one of its own back into the fold - and it’s a move that could pay dividends both on the field and on the recruiting trail. Former Terps offensive lineman Kyle Schmitt is set to join Mike Locksley’s staff as the team’s new tight ends coach, adding a familiar face with deep local ties and a proven track record of developing talent.
Schmitt knows College Park well. He suited up for Maryland from 2001 to 2004, logging 48 games and 27 starts at center and guard.
He was a steady presence in the trenches and earned All-ACC honorable mention honors during his career. But it’s what he’s done since his playing days that makes this hire especially intriguing.
After a brief stint as a graduate assistant with the Terps, Schmitt took over the football program at Archbishop Spalding in Severn, Maryland - and turned it into a powerhouse. Over the course of more than a decade, he built Spalding into one of the premier high school programs in the region, if not the country. The numbers back it up: a 101-36 record and a pipeline of talent that’s flowed steadily to Maryland’s roster.
That list includes some of the most important names in the current Terps program. Starting quarterback Malik Washington is a Spalding product.
So are defensive backs Lavain Scruggs and Jayden Shipps, as well as incoming safety Sean Johnson and linebacker Keyshawn Flowers. And the talent isn’t drying up anytime soon.
Spalding’s senior class features wide receiver Myles McAfee, a four-star prospect and one of Maryland’s top recruiting priorities. Freshman quarterback Brian Snowden, another Spalding standout, recently received an offer from Maryland and is already generating buzz as one of the top young signal-callers in the region.
Locksley has long spoken highly of Schmitt’s work at the high school level, especially when it comes to the kind of players he’s produced - both in terms of talent and character. “The success we've had recruiting Archbishop Spalding and the type of players that Kyle Schmitt, who's a former Terp, has been able to produce... we have quite a few guys from Spalding and it's because of the value that those guys have created,” Locksley said on National Signing Day two years ago.
Now, Schmitt steps into a tight ends room that features returning starter Dorian Fleming and Auburn transfer Preston Howard, who’s back at Maryland after beginning his career there. It’s a group with potential - and Schmitt’s experience as a former offensive lineman and communicator on the field should serve him well in developing this unit.
It’s also worth noting that Schmitt has coached tight ends before, including a stint at St. Vincent College before his return to Maryland as a GA.
During his college playing days, he was twice named to the Rimington Award watch list, an honor reserved for the nation’s top centers. He also had brief stops with the Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals, and NFL Europe before transitioning into coaching full time.
While Locksley hasn’t officially announced the hire or any staff changes yet, all signs point to Schmitt stepping into the role previously held by veteran coach Hal Hunter. And for Maryland, it’s a move that makes sense on multiple levels - reuniting with a former player who understands the program, knows the region inside and out, and has already helped shape the foundation of the current roster.
In short, Schmitt’s return isn’t just about coaching tight ends. It’s about reinforcing a recruiting pipeline that’s already proven fruitful and bringing in a coach who’s earned respect at every level he’s worked. Maryland fans should keep an eye on this one - it could be a quietly impactful addition to the staff.