Maryland fired head coach Mike Locksley on Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026, marking the first major move in the 2026 college football coaching carousel. Locksley departs with a 39-54 overall record and a 17-52 mark in Big Ten play. The Terrapins had won only two Big Ten games since the start of the 2024 season and began the 2026 campaign 2-5 overall (0-4 in conference) before the change.
Assistant coach Aazaar Abdul-Rahim was named interim head coach and lost his debut 20-17 to Illinois on a 26-yard walk-off field goal.
Top Candidates
According to InsideMDSports, the 247Sports affiliate covering the Terrapins, Wake Forest head coach Jake Dickert has emerged as a leading target. Dickert, who left Washington State for Wake Forest after the 2024 season, posted an 8-4 record in his final year at Washington State and is 15-5 (8-5 ACC) through the midpoint of his second season at Wake Forest. The Demon Deacons have won their last four ACC games by a combined score of 187-31.
"For Maryland, the attraction is a coach with a defensive background and experience developing competitive teams without routinely signing the most talented roster in his conference," said Jack Sheehan of InsideMDSports. "The Terps need someone who can improve their weekly baseline, and Dickert's résumé offers a credible case. The bigger question might be whether Maryland could persuade him to leave. He already has a power-conference job and early success at Wake Forest. Smith would need to present a compelling opportunity, backed by the resources to support it."
InsideMDSports reports that the hot board includes several other candidates, among them a coach described as having "one of the most accomplished head-coaching résumés on this board." The full list is available through the outlet's subscription service.
