Maryland football coach Michael Locksley will return next season, athletic director Jim Smith said in a letter to fans Sunday morning.
The first-year athletic director informed the team of the decision today and told ESPN Maryland is focused on improving financially to reach the level of the Big Ten’s top teams.
“We are working to strengthen our NIL support for 2026 and beyond and have already seen success for next year,” Smith told ESPN. “We are prioritizing roster retention, recruiting and competing in the transfer portal.”
The Terps are in the midst of a six-game skid and boast just one win in Big Ten play for the second straight season. The only Big Ten team worse over the past two seasons is Purdue, which hasn’t won any conference games.
[Maryland football fails to score a touchdown in sixth straight loss, 24-6 to Illinois]
Locksley is 16-41 in Big Ten play at Maryland, with his first full season in 2019. He entered the season with the second-lowest winning percentage among active Power Four coaches who have been at a college for at least seven seasons, The Baltimore Sun reported. The Terps are yet to beat a ranked Big Ten opponent under him.
It would have cost more than $13 million to fire Locksley, according to his contract. Smith told The Sun on Tuesday he would evaluate Locksley after the season — calling it “silly” to do now. Instead of waiting, Smith made his biggest decision yet.
[As Maryland football struggles, Malik Washington shoulders more responsibilities]
Locksley took over a program reeling from the death of offensive lineman Jordan McNair. He instilled a new culture and guided Maryland to three straight bowl game wins from 2021-2023 — the first time the Terps accomplished the feat.
“To continue building on this foundation, Coach Locksley needs — and deserves — the full support of our department, our university, and all of Terp Nation. We are fully committed to giving him and our student-athletes the resources and investments necessary to succeed. I have worked closely with Coach Locksley to rapidly strengthen our NIL support for 2026 and beyond, with a clear and focused effort on roster retention, recruiting, and being highly competitive in the transfer portal,” Smith added in the letter.
Locksley curated NFL talent and brought in many talented recruits, including freshman Zahir Mathis, Sidney Stewart and four-star quarterback Malik Washington. But considering his results the past two seasons and the fanbase’s growing impatience, it is surprising Smith committed to Locksley before the season concludes.
