Maryland made the first major move of the 2026 college football coaching carousel on Wednesday, Oct. 21, firing head coach Mike Locksley. Locksley departs with a 39-54 overall record and a 17-52 mark in Big Ten play. The Terrapins have won only two Big Ten games since the start of the 2024 season and opened the current campaign 2-5 overall, 0-4 in conference, prompting the change. Aazaar Abdul-Rahim, named interim head coach, lost his debut 20-17 to Illinois.
Coaching Candidates
An initial hot board compiled by reporters covering the program identifies Wake Forest head coach Jason Dickert 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. In his second season at Wake Forest, he is 15-5 overall (8-5 ACC) and has guided the Demon Deacons to four consecutive ACC victories by a combined margin of 187-31. Analysts note his defensive background and success building competitive teams without top-tier recruiting classes as fits for Maryland's needs.
The hot board also includes several other candidates, among them a coach described as having "one of the most accomplished head-coaching résumés on this board." Further details on the full list remain with the reporting team tracking the search.
