Maryland Fires Mike Locksley After Disastrous Start to Season

The Maryland Terrapins are making a major change to their football program following another disappointing start to the season.

Maryland has dismissed head coach Mike Locksley, according to ESPN's Pete Thamel, ending his tenure in College Park after the Terrapins dropped to 2-5.

The decision comes just days after Maryland suffered a heartbreaking 37-30 loss to Rutgers, extending its losing streak to five games. The Terrapins entered halftime with a 23-13 advantage but struggled to maintain control as Rutgers rallied in the second half.

Saturday's defeat also extended Maryland's conference losing streak to 12 games, highlighting the program's continued struggles against Big Ten competition.

Locksley finishes his Maryland tenure with a 39-54 overall record, including his brief stint as interim head coach in 2015. The 56-year-old returned to Maryland as head coach ahead of the 2019 season, hoping to build a consistent winner in one of college football's most competitive conferences.

Although Locksley helped guide the Terrapins to three consecutive bowl victories from 2021 through 2023, the program struggled to maintain that momentum.

Maryland finished 4-8 in each of the previous two seasons, placing increasing pressure on Locksley to deliver significant improvement in 2026. Instead, the Terrapins opened the season with two victories before dropping five consecutive games.

The decision is particularly notable because Locksley had already attempted to address the team's struggles by making a significant coaching change.

On Sunday, Maryland dismissed defensive coordinator Ted Monachino following another difficult performance from the Terrapins' defense.

Locksley acknowledged that a change was necessary, but the move ultimately wasn't enough to secure his own future with the program.

Maryland's defense allowed an average of 43.8 points during its five-game losing streak, contributing to the team's inability to compete consistently in conference play.

The Terrapins are currently on their bye week, providing the university additional time to determine how the program will move forward.

Maryland is scheduled to return to action Oct. 31 against Illinois.

The university has not yet announced who will replace Locksley or serve as interim head coach.

For Maryland, the dismissal signals the beginning of another coaching search as the program attempts to reverse its recent struggles and establish itself as a consistent contender in the Big Ten.