Maryland believes the right hire as its next football coach can give the program the resources to compete more consistently in the Big Ten and a better shot at the College Football Playoff, which is expected to grow to 24 teams. That was the message from athletic director Jim Smith in his first interview since last Wednesday, when the school fired Mike Locksley.
Smith told CBS Sports that agents and others have already reached out in significant numbers about the vacancy. "I know there's a lot of interest in it," he said. He added that candidates want to know what resources come with any job, and that he is confident Maryland will be funded at a level that is very competitive in the Big Ten. He pointed to the school's market and its ability to build a roster through the transfer portal, retention and recruiting.
Spending figures reported earlier by CBS Sports and 247Sports show where Maryland stands. Oregon and Ohio State spent more than $40 million on their 2026 rosters, while Indiana, Michigan, Nebraska, USC and Wisconsin each spent more than $30 million. Maryland landed in the $20 million-or-more range, a clear step below the top spenders but ahead of programs such as Minnesota, Purdue and Northwestern.
The decision came after a difficult stretch. Smith, in his second year as Maryland's athletic director, has a background mostly in professional sports and was most recently a senior vice president with the Atlanta Braves. This is his first football coaching search. Locksley needed a winning record after back-to-back 4-8 seasons in 2024 and 2025, but the Terrapins are 2-5. A 54-3 loss to UCLA felt like the point of no return amid fan frustration, and Smith sensed unhappiness inside the football building as well.
The timing still surprised many, since midweek firings are uncommon in college football and Locksley had dismissed defensive coordinator Ted Monachino on Sunday. Aazaar Abdul-Rahim went from co-defensive coordinator to interim defensive coordinator to interim head coach in a matter of days. Smith said the two moves were separate and that he supported Locksley's desire to change the defense after losses to UCLA and Rutgers. The unit ranked 101st in total defense. During the bye week, Smith concluded that was not enough. "By Tuesday night, I had gotten to the point where I thought we needed to make the change, and we did on Wednesday morning," he said.
Smith said he liked Locksley personally, which made the decision harder. The two agreed to part ways, with Maryland paying a buyout of approximately $9.75 million. Locksley has told ESPN he is "at peace" with the decision and does not expect to be a head coach again.
The day also brought controversy. Two Testudo Times student journalists tried to interview players outside the football building, and a staffer called campus police over alleged suspicious activity. A video of their interaction with an officer drew considerable criticism online. Maryland athletics cited heightened safety concerns around the program in recent weeks. The department has since agreed to First Amendment training with the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. Smith said there was no malicious intent and called it a stressful time.
Maryland is no longer alone on the carousel, as Baylor and North Carolina State have also opened searches. The cycle is expected to be quieter than last year's, though Florida State and USC could still make changes. Early names mentioned include Wake Forest's Jake Dickert and New Mexico's Jason Eck.
Smith is expected to hire a search firm. He said he wants "an exceptional leader who has been a part of building a successful program," someone who understands the current financial landscape of college athletics and can assemble a strong staff. He expects a deep candidate pool, calling Maryland "an exceptional job."
