Mike Locksley isn’t finished coaching football. But after eight-plus seasons leading Maryland, he’s no longer interested in rebuilding another program.
A day after Maryland announced it had mutually agreed to part ways with its football coach, Locksley told ESPN on Thursday that he doubts he’ll get another opportunity to become a college head coach. Instead, the 56-year-old hopes to return to the NFL or serve as an assistant at a college program that can compete for a national championship.
“But I’m done with the heavy laboring of building,” Locksley told ESPN. “And taking a job that’s going to wear me out. I can’t do it anymore.”
In a text message, Locksley declined an interview request from The Baltimore Sun.
His comments offered the first extended glimpse into his thinking since Wednesday’s departure, which ended a tenure defined by three consecutive bowl victories and an inability to sustain success in the Big Ten.
“To be honest, I kind of knew it was coming, just didn’t know when,” Locksley told ESPN. “I’m not mad about leaving. I’m not. I’m at peace with it because I know it’s better than what it was when I got here.”
When Locksley arrived in December 2018, Maryland was dealing with the aftermath of offensive lineman Jordan McNair’s death from heatstroke and the dismissal of coach DJ Durkin. Locksley pointed to the stability he restored and three bowl victories as evidence of progress while acknowledging the program struggled to adjust to the financial demands of name, image and likeness compensation for players.
That success, however, proved difficult to sustain.
The Terps are 10-21 since the start of the 2024 season, including consecutive 4-8 finishes. Maryland (2-5, 0-4 Big Ten) has lost five straight games and 12 straight conference contests, most recently squandering a 10-point halftime lead to lose 37-30 to Rutgers on Saturday.
Despite those struggles, Locksley expressed pride in his accomplishments in a statement Wednesday.
“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,” Locksley said. “They deserve our continued support, and I will always want the best for them and Maryland football.”
Locksley acknowledged that he could have done more to retain successful assistants, specifically mentioning Scottie Montgomery, Jon Hoke and Dan Enos. He cited salaries, coaching turnover and uncertainty surrounding his future as obstacles to maintaining continuity.
“The hardest thing I dealt with here was not recruiting players — it’s being able to get the right coaches and assistants with me,” Locksley told ESPN.
Since returning to Maryland in 2019, Locksley had five lead offensive coordinators and five lead defensive coordinators, including Aazaar Abdul-Rahim, who was elevated to the latter role Sunday after Ted Monachino’s dismissal.
The Terps never posted a winning Big Ten record under Locksley, going 16-47 in conference play since 2019 and 2-20 since the start of 2024.
According to ESPN, Locksley met with athletic director Jim Smith on Sunday and understood that a change might be necessary. But he made it clear he would not resign voluntarily.
“I said, ‘Jim, I understand, and if you have to do what you need to do, I care more about Maryland and these kids than my ego,'” Locksley told ESPN.
Maryland characterized the separation as a mutual decision. Locksley told ESPN he packed up his office Wednesday evening.
Locksley is owed approximately $9.7 million under a contract running through 2028. He said he is considering television commentary, potentially with the Big Ten Network, as he evaluates his next move.
Meanwhile, Abdul-Rahim is serving as interim coach for the remainder of the season. Locksley leaves with a 39-54 record as Maryland’s coach, including a six-game interim stint in 2015.
“It’s actually not hard to win at Maryland,” Locksley told ESPN. “It’s hard to win consistently at Maryland.”
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