Maryland parts with football coach Mike Locksley after five straight losses
In short
Maryland is out of a head football coach after Mike Locksley's departure, which Fox News and Newsweek described as a firing and Reuters as an agreed split. The Terrapins are 2-5 after five straight losses and have lost 12 Big Ten games in a row. Fox News, citing OutKick sources, said defensive coordinator Aazaar Abdul-Rahim will be interim head coach.
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The University of Maryland has parted ways with head football coach Mike Locksley. Fox News, citing sources who spoke to OutKick, reported at 11:55 local time on 21 October 2026 that Maryland is firing him. Newsweek later reported that Maryland dismissed Locksley, according to ESPN's Pete Thamel, ending his tenure in College Park. Reuters described the outcome differently, with a headline saying Maryland and Locksley agree to split. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
The Terrapins are 2-5. They won their first two games, over Hampton and UConn, then lost five in a row, most recently at home to Rutgers 37-30. Newsweek said Maryland led 23-13 at halftime before Rutgers rallied. The loss was Maryland's 12th straight in Big Ten play, according to Newsweek, and Reuters' headline also referred to a 12-game Big Ten skid. Newsweek said Maryland's defense allowed an average of 43.8 points during the five-game losing streak. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
Newsweek reported that Maryland dismissed defensive coordinator Ted Monachino on Sunday, and that Locksley had acknowledged a change was necessary. Fox News and Newsweek both gave Locksley's record at Maryland as 39-54, which Newsweek said includes his brief stint as interim head coach in 2015. [ 1 , 4 ]
Fox News, citing its source, said defensive coordinator Aazaar Abdul-Rahim will be interim head coach for the rest of the season. It also reported that Maryland will owe Locksley $4.9 million as part of the buyout, in a 60-day window. No other document gives these details. [ 1 ]
Newsweek said Locksley returned as head coach ahead of the 2019 season and that Maryland won three consecutive bowl games from 2021 through 2023. It said Maryland finished 4-8 in each of the previous two seasons. Fox News said the Terrapins are 10-21 since 2023 and that Locksley is the first coach fired this year, adding that seven coaches had already been fired at this time last season. [ 1 , 4 ]
In a later report, Fox News said two University of Maryland student reporters say police were called on them for standing outside the football facility after Locksley's firing. [ 5 ]
Why it matters
The move ends Locksley's tenure at Maryland with a 39-54 record. The documents show the team now needs an interim leader for the rest of the season, and a report of police being called on student reporters outside the football facility followed the news.
Key facts
- Maryland and head coach Mike Locksley parted ways on 21 October 2026; Fox News and Newsweek called it a firing, while Reuters said the two agreed to split. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- Maryland has lost five straight games after winning its first two, over Hampton and UConn, and stands at 2-5. [ 1 , 4 ]
- Maryland lost at home to Rutgers 37-30 in its most recent game, its 12th straight Big Ten loss. [ 3 , 4 ]
- Locksley finishes with a 39-54 record at Maryland. [ 1 , 4 ]
- Maryland dismissed defensive coordinator Ted Monachino on Sunday, Newsweek reported. [ 4 ]
- Two Maryland student reporters said police were called on them for standing outside the football facility after Locksley's firing. [ 5 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- Whether Locksley was fired or the split was mutual. Fox News and Newsweek described a firing, while Reuters' headline said Maryland and Locksley agreed to split.
- Aazaar Abdul-Rahim will be interim head coach for the rest of the season. Only Fox News, citing an unnamed source told to OutKick, reports this.
- Maryland will owe Locksley $4.9 million in a 60-day window as part of the buyout. Only Fox News reports the buyout figure.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Fox News publishes the OutKick report that Maryland is firing Locksley. [ 1 ]
- Reuters publishes a report that Maryland and Locksley agreed to split. [ 3 ]
- Newsweek reports that Maryland has dismissed Locksley, citing ESPN's Pete Thamel. [ 4 ]
- Fox News publishes a report on two student reporters who say police were called on them outside the football facility. [ 5 ]