“Maryland is not only my dream job, but it’s also home,” Locksley stated in an announcement. “We are building something special here in College Park, and I’m extremely grateful and honored to continue to serve as the head football coach at this outstanding university.”
Locksley, a Southwest D.C. native, guided the Terps to a bowl recreation final season for the primary time since 2016, and Maryland cruised previous Virginia Tech within the Pinstripe Bowl for this system’s first postseason win since 2010 to complete 7-6, its first successful file since 2014.
“Coach Locks has done a great job revitalizing our football program,” Athletic Director Damon Evans stated in an announcement offered by the varsity. “Last season, culminating with the emphatic win in the New Era Pinstripe Bowl, demonstrated the progress he is making. Coach Locks continues to build our program and has high expectations and we know he is the man to lead us there.”
When Maryland employed Locksley in December 2018, he agreed to a $2.5 million contract that elevated by $100,000 annually, plus varied incentives. Last season, Locksley’s complete pay, which was decreased barely due to the pandemic, ranked 61st nationally amongst faculty soccer coaches and final within the Big Ten, based on USA Today’s wage database. Locksley’s pay of $2,538,100 final yr was properly beneath that of the second lowest-paid Big Ten coach, Rutgers’ Greg Schiano at $4 million. Seven of the 14 Big Ten coaches made between $4 million and $4.5 million final yr.
Locksley’s new deal features a buyout that may require the varsity to pay him 65 % of the remaining worth of the contract if he’s fired. Maryland must pay Locksley half of the buyout inside 60 days of his firing.
Locksley arrived in College Park in December 2018, simply months after the varsity had been rocked by the dying of 19-year-old offensive lineman Jordan McNair and allegations of cultural points contained in the soccer program. With head coach D.J. Durkin suspended and ultimately fired, Matt Canada led the staff in an interim position through the 2018 season. Maryland overhauled its teaching employees with the hiring of Locksley, beforehand the coordinator for a record-setting Alabama offense, and 10 new on-field assistants.
Locksley had labored at Maryland in two different stints — because the operating backs coach from 1997-2002 after which because the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach from 2012-15. In his closing season because the coordinator for the Terps, he was elevated to interim head coach for the final six video games after the firing of Randy Edsall.
In Locksley’s first season as the pinnacle coach at Maryland, the Terps completed simply 3-9 with just one win in convention play. Maryland gave up not less than 50 factors in 4 Big Ten losses. The Terps confirmed some progress the subsequent yr, significantly in a win at Penn State, ending 2-3 in a pandemic-shortened 2020 season throughout which this system needed to pause a number of instances due to coronavirus outbreaks. When the staff returned for a full 2021 slate, the Terps had their greatest season below Locksley.
Maryland nonetheless struggles in opposition to the highest groups in its division, that are among the many nation’s pedigreed packages. In Locksley’s two video games in opposition to Ohio State, the Terps misplaced by 59 factors in 2019 and by 49 factors final yr. Maryland’s previous six video games in opposition to Michigan have all been losses with a margin of not less than 21 factors. Locksley picked up that key win at Penn State in 2020, this system’s third victory in opposition to the Nittany Lions at school historical past, however the Terps misplaced the opposite matchups in 2019 and 2021.
Maryland gained 4 convention matchups in 2014, its first season within the convention, however since then, the Terps haven’t gained greater than three Big Ten video games. Maryland has a .288 successful share in convention play since shifting from the ACC. In three seasons below Locksley, the Terps have gone 6-17 (. 261) in opposition to convention foes.
Quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa transferred to Maryland due to his household’s relationship with Locksley, who coached Tagovailoa’s brother, Tua, at Alabama. Tagovailoa is coming into his third season as Maryland’s starter.
“There is still plenty of work to be done to elevate this program to where I believe it should be nationally,” Locksley stated, “but I know that we have the right people and structure in place to ensure that the best is ahead for the Terps.”