‘It Was Beyond Time,’ ‘Finally Something To Smile About’ — Maryland Fans Celebrate HC Mike Locksley’s Exit Following Disastrous 2–5 Start
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Mike Locksley’s eighth season in charge of the Maryland Terrapins ended seven games in on Wednesday. The school announced he was stepping down as head coach effective immediately, with the team at 2-5 and tied at 16th in the Big Ten, and several of the program’s fans online greeted the news with open relief.
Maryland Athletics described the parting as “a mutual decision” and named Aazaar Abdul-Rahim interim head coach, but Yahoo Sports reported, citing a source, that Maryland fired Locksley. Either way, the fans celebrating the change didn’t hold back, and a couple of them argued it should have come sooner.
Maryland Terrapins Fans Celebrate the Change After Back-to-Back 4-8 Seasons
The announcement came four days after a 37-30 home loss to the Rutgers Scarlet Knights on Oct. 17. Maryland led that game 23-13 at halftime before Rutgers scored the next 24 points. The Terrapins pulled back within a touchdown on Malik Washington’s 10-yard scoring pass to DeJuan Williams with 2:17 left, but their final drive ended on downs.
The losing started well before this fall, though. Locksley was kept on for 2026 after back-to-back 4-8 seasons, including a 2025 campaign in which Maryland opened 4-0 and then lost its final eight games. The program has won just two Big Ten games across the 2024, 2025, and 2026 seasons.
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One fan zeroed in on that stretch after Wednesday’s announcement, in a post directed at the program’s football account: “Too bad the season is over already. Should have made this move at the end of last season.”
Maryland still has five games left, beginning with a home date against the Illinois Fighting Illini at SECU Stadium on Oct. 31. Another fan struck the same note in a reply: “Thank the lord it was beyond time!”
Others kept their reactions shorter. “Finally something to smile about,” another fan wrote.
Another needed only a single word: “Freedom.”
Bruno Beidacki added, “Tough situation at Maryland. There was no other option and it was a long time coming. Locksley was a great recruiter, though, so hopefully Maryland can still keep landing some 5-stars (and retain their current ones) under new leadership.”
School Leaders Praise Mike Locksley as the Coaching Search Begins
The university’s own statements struck a far different tone. President Darryll J. Pines said, “Michael has been a consummate professional, committed to student-athlete well-being. He rebuilt Maryland football and brought together the community and fan base during a difficult time period in the history of the university.”
Locksley posted a 39-54 record in College Park and led Maryland to wins in three bowl games from 2021-23, a run that included 8-5 finishes in both 2022 and 2023.
Athletic director Jim Smith said, “Following thoughtful conversations with Coach Locksley, we agreed that a coaching change was in the best interest of Coach Locksley and the Maryland football program.” Maryland said its national search for Locksley’s successor begins right away.
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Until then, the team belongs to Abdul-Rahim, who is from Washington, D.C., and is in his third season back on the Terrapins’ staff. He has been co-defensive coordinator, associate head coach of the defense, and cornerbacks coach since 2024, and he also coached the Terrapins from 2016-18.
The change also comes with a sizable bill, which college football reporter Pete Thamel spelled out: “Per Mike Locksley’s Maryland contract, he’s owed $9.75 million. There’s no offset or mitigation on the deal, which means Maryland will pay all of it even if Locksley lands another job.”
Earlier on Wednesday, Pro Football Network had posted a reply to Thamel about Maryland fans celebrating Locksley’s departure:
Locksley, in his own statement released by the school, said, “My connection to this region and the people who make this community special is something I will always value. I appreciate everyone who has supported me and our entire program during my time at Maryland, and I wish the players, staff and the entire Maryland football community success in the future.”
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network.
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