Mike Locksley Accepts Maryland Firing and Eyes NFL Return

Mike Locksley is preparing for the next stage of his career after Maryland dismissed him as head football coach, with the 56-year-old considering opportunities in the NFL, college coaching staffs and television. Speaking to ESPN one day after the decision was announced Wednesday, Locksley said he had accepted the outcome and did not expect to become a college head coach again.

Locksley finished his Maryland tenure with a 39-54 record over eight seasons, according to ESPN. The Terrapins went 10-21 from the start of the 2024 season through his departure, while his next career move could involve serving as an NFL coach or joining a college program with championship potential.

Locksley said he no longer wanted the demanding work of rebuilding a program from the ground up. He also indicated that he was considering a role as a college coordinator rather than taking another head coaching position.

"But I'm done with the heavy laboring of building, and taking a job that's going to wear me out. I can't do it anymore." Locksley told ESPN.

Despite the dismissal, Locksley said he believed his work had improved Maryland's football program since his arrival. He pointed to the program's stabilization and three bowl appearances, while acknowledging the challenges that emerged as name, image and likeness compensation became a factor in college sports.

"To be honest I kind of knew it was coming, just didn't know when. I'm not mad about leaving. I'm not.

I'm at peace with it because I know it's better than what it was when I got here. A player died right before I got here and this place was burnt to the ground. Stabilized it, went to three bowls, NIL kicks in, and wasn't prepared for it."

Locksley told ESPN.

Locksley met with Maryland athletic director Jim Smith on Sunday and packed his office Wednesday evening. He said he understood the university's decision but did not intend to resign voluntarily, emphasizing that his priority was the institution and its players.

"I said, 'Jim, I understand, and if you have to do what you need to do, I care more about Maryland and these kids than my ego,' But what I won't do is resign. But we can talk and figure out how to let the pressure off of everybody because I care more about Maryland." Locksley said.

Looking back on his tenure, Locksley identified staff retention as a major area where he could have performed better. He specifically cited assistant coaches Scottie Montgomery, Jon Hoke and Dan Enos, saying financial limitations, uncertainty surrounding his future and negative attention contributed to the difficulty of maintaining a consistent coaching staff.

"The hardest thing I dealt with here was not recruiting players -- it's being able to get the right coaches and assistants with me." Locksley told ESPN.

He said Maryland had struggled to retain successful assistants when other programs recruited them away. The arrival of name, image and likeness compensation added another challenge to the process, according to Locksley.

" ... For whatever reason, I struggled to keep the really good coaches I had because we win, we were having success, and people come hire them. I was not able to keep consistency with the staff.

And then NIL hit." Locksley said.

According to sources cited by ESPN's Pete Thamel, Locksley was scheduled to earn $6.4 million in his eighth season under a contract running through 2028. Maryland also owes him a $9.75 million buyout, and the agreement contains no offset or mitigation provision, meaning the university must pay the full amount even if he takes another job.

Locksley said television commentary could provide another opportunity while he evaluates his future, with the Big Ten Network among the possibilities. He also maintained that Maryland could win football games but acknowledged the difficulty of sustaining success at the program.

"It's actually not hard to win at Maryland; it's hard to win consistently at Maryland." Locksley told ESPN.