Michael Locksley is out as Maryland’s head football coach, with the university announcing Wednesday that he has stepped down effective immediately.
The move came after what school officials called “thoughtful conversations,” and Maryland said the decision was mutual. Aazaar Abdul-Rahim will serve as the Terrapins’ interim head coach for the rest of the season.
Locksley’s run in College Park ends in his eighth season with a 39-54 record. His tenure included a bright stretch from 2021 to 2023, when Maryland won three straight bowl games and steadied a program in the middle of major transition.
Barry P. Gossett Director of Athletics Jim Smith said the school appreciated Locksley’s work on and off the field.
“We agreed that a coaching change was in the best interest of Coach Locksley and the Maryland football program,” Smith said. “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. Michael represented Maryland with pride, strengthened our connection throughout the state and the region, and made a lasting impact on the young men he coached.”
University President Darryll J. Pines also praised Locksley’s impact, pointing to his 18 total years with the school in different roles as an assistant and head coach. Pines said Locksley “rebuilt Maryland football and brought together the community and fan base during a difficult time period in the history of the university.”
Locksley, a Washington, D.C. native with deep ties to the DMV, said the program and the region have always meant a great deal to him.
“Maryland football and this community mean a great deal to me,” Locksley said. “I am proud of the work we have done together and remain deeply invested in the success and well-being of the young men in this program… My connection to this region and the people who make this community special is something I will always value.”
Maryland Athletics said it will begin a national search for its next permanent head coach right away. The school said that search will be kept strictly confidential and will focus on a proven leader who can recruit at an elite level and build a championship-caliber culture.
Smith added that the university administration is aligned behind the effort and prepared to provide the resources needed for Maryland to compete at the highest level moving forward.
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