Brian Kelly, the former LSU head coach, is officially in the mix for the open head coach role at Maryland. The Terps just fired Mike Locksley on Wednesday, a move that came right after their 12th straight Big Ten loss, this time to Rutgers on Saturday. This isn’t some quiet coaching search; it looks like Maryland is swinging for the fences and they are not wasting any time, naming longtime assistant Aazaar Abdul-Rahim as interim head coach while the national search kicks off.
Maryland’s Big Ten Nightmare Forces a Change
Let’s be real, you don’t fire a coach who’s been there since December 2018 unless things are rough. And for Maryland, they’ve been rough. That loss to Rutgers over the weekend sealed Locksley’s fate, extending their Big Ten losing streak to a brutal 12 games. No wonder the athletic department hit the reset button. The Terps clearly need a massive shake-up, and bringing in a name like Brian Kelly shows they’re not messing around. This isn’t just about finding a coach; it’s about finding someone who can actually turn around a program that’s been stuck in a serious slump for too long.
Kelly’s Comeback: A Storied Career and a Record That Demands Attention
So, why Kelly? Well, after his dismissal from LSU, he wasn’t exactly sitting around. He built a presence in media, serving as a commentator and studio analyst for CBS Sports throughout 2026. But after the 2025 season, Kelly made it clear he was open to returning to coaching, and with a resume like his, why wouldn’t he be? The guy brings 40 years of coaching experience to the table, and he’s got a strong history of winning at every college level. He started with Grand Valley State in Division II, jumped to Division I with Central Michigan, and then spent 12 seasons with Notre Dame before heading to LSU. His overall head coaching record? A staggering 320-108-2. That’s not just “winning history”; that’s a proven winner who knows how to build a program.
With Aazaar Abdul-Rahim stepping in as interim coach, Maryland’s national search is just getting started. But with a coach of Kelly’s pedigree and 320 career wins on their radar, this isn’t just another coaching vacancy. Big Ten fans gotta be watching this one closely because if Kelly lands in College Park, things are about to get real interesting in that conference.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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