Home / Sports / Ex-Maryland Coach Locksley: Staff Turnover Was Toughest Challenge
Ex-Maryland Coach Locksley: Staff Turnover Was Toughest Challenge
23 Oct
Summary
- Mike Locksley cited assistant coach turnover as his biggest challenge.
- NIL policies contributed to instability and difficulty retaining staff.
- Locksley admitted to losing the locker room in previous comments.
Mike Locksley's tenure as Maryland's head coach concluded after a 2-5 start to the 2026 season, leading to his dismissal on Wednesday, October 20, 2026. In an interview the following day, Locksley identified coaching staff turnover as the most significant challenge he faced. He explained that maintaining assistant coaches became increasingly difficult due to their poaching by other programs following team success.
The National, Image, and Likeness (NIL) era further complicated this issue, arriving just as Maryland's winning performance began to decline. Locksley pointed to coaches like Scottie Montgomery, Jon Hoke, and Dan Enos as examples of assistants he struggled to retain. Despite these challenges, the team achieved a notable streak of three consecutive bowl game victories from 2021 to 2023.
Locksley acknowledged past struggles, including admitting to losing the locker room in July 2025. The team's performance since the start of 2024 has been 10-21 overall, with a significant 2-20 record in Big Ten play. The program's 12th consecutive conference defeat preceded his departure. Locksley expressed peace with his exit, stating it's better than the situation he inherited.
He is reportedly looking for roles in the NFL or as a coordinator, potentially shifting to the side of coaching where his staff is sought after. Maryland owes him approximately $9.75 million in a buyout, with no offset clause.
