Maryland football just dropped the first major bombshell of the 2026 college football carousel, firing head coach Mike Locksley on Wednesday, October 21st. The move comes after Locksley piled up a rough 39-54 overall record and an even tougher 17-52 mark in the Big Ten. You just can’t keep that up, especially when the team has managed only two Big Ten wins since the start of the 2024 season and kicked off this year with a dismal 2-5 overall, 0-4 in conference play. Something had to give.
The Search Kicks Off: Why Locksley’s Era Had to End
Let’s be real, the writing was on the wall. A 2-5 start to this season, with zero Big Ten wins? That’s just brutal. Locksley’s tenure was consistently tough, showing only 17 Big Ten victories over his entire run. That kind of performance, year after year, puts a program in a tough spot. It’s clear the Terrapins desperately need a new direction, someone who can actually turn things around and get them competitive in the Big Ten. Fans are absolutely starved for a winner, and the program’s weekly baseline just wasn’t cutting it. Now, the big question is who can step in and revitalize this squad.
A Wildcard From the West Coast? Jason Dickert’s Name Is Already Surfacing
The coaching rumor mill is already going wild, and InsideMDSports, the go-to crew for Terrapin intel, has dropped their initial hot board. And man, there are some surprising names in the mix! One guy who’s already making serious waves as a potential target for Maryland is Wake Forest head coach Jason Dickert. If that name sounds familiar, it’s because Dickert was just at Washington State, where he posted an 8-4 record in his final year in Pullman before the whole Pac-12 collapse sent him east. He left WSU for Wake Forest after the 2024 season, and he’s been absolutely crushing it there. He’s midway through his second year with the Demon Deacons, already racking up a 14-5 overall record and a 7-5 mark in the ACC, which is huge for a program that’s historically tough to win at.
Jack Sheehan of InsideMDSports nailed it, saying, “For Maryland, the attraction is a coach with a defensive background and experience developing competitive teams without routinely signing the most talented roster in his conference. The Terps need someone who can improve their weekly baseline, and Dickert’s résumé offers a credible case.” That’s exactly what Maryland needs: someone who can win without relying on five-star recruits every single year. The big hurdle, though? Sheehan also mentioned, “The bigger question might be whether Maryland could persuade him to leave. He already has a power-conference job and early success at Wake Forest. Smith would need to present a compelling opportunity, backed by the resources to support it.” So, Maryland’s going to have to open up the checkbook and make a truly compelling offer if they want to snatch him. The InsideMDSports team also hinted at another candidate with “one of the most accomplished head-coaching résumés on this board,” so this search is just getting started!
The heat is on for Maryland to find their next leader. This coaching search is going to define the program’s direction for years. Keep an eye on InsideMDSports if you want the real scoop on what’s next.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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