Maryland has dismissed eighth-year coach Mike Locksley following the Terrapins' 12th consecutive Big Ten defeat, it was announced Wednesday.
Locksley, 56, went 39-54 with the Terps but held a record of 10-21 since the start of the 2024 campaign.
"Maryland football and this community mean a great deal to me," Locksley said in a statement. "I am grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of this program for so many years, and for the relationships I have built with our players, staff, alumni and supporters.
"I am proud of the work we have done together and remain deeply invested in the success and well-being of the young men in this program. They deserve our continued support, and I will always want the best for them and Maryland football."
Locksley was set to earn $6.4 million in his eighth season on a contract that runs through 2028 and is owed a buyout of $9.75 million, sources told ESPN's Pete Thamel. There's no offset or mitigation on the deal, which means Maryland will pay all of it even if Locksley lands another job, sources told ESPN.
"We agreed that a coaching change was in the best interest of Coach Locksley and the Maryland football program," athletic director Jim Smith said in a statement. "On behalf of the University of Maryland, I want to thank Michael for his dedication to our football program and the genuine care he showed our student-athletes. Michael represented Maryland with pride, strengthened our connection throughout the state and the region, and made a lasting impact on the young men he coached.
"... Our immediate responsibility is to provide stability for our players and ensure they have the resources, guidance and support they need. They have continued to represent Maryland with determination, and our entire department will stand behind them as we begin this next chapter."
Maryland has named longtime assistant Aazaar Abdul-Rahim as the interim head coach as it begins a national search for Locksley's replacement. Abdul-Rahim, a Washington D.C. native who has strong ties to the area and is viewed as a key figure in the building to help retain top talent, was recently promoted to defensive coordinator after Ted Monachino was fired by Locksley on Sunday.
"Maryland is a world-class university with a proud football tradition, an outstanding location, a passionate fan base and tremendous potential," Smith said. "Our expectation is to build a program that competes for championships and makes our students, alumni and supporters proud. We understand the responsibility that comes with leading Maryland Football, and we are committed to finding the right person to guide the Terrapins into the future."
The Terps (2-5) are on a bye in Week 8 ahead of a visit from Illinois on Oct. 31.
Lockley's exit arrived amid an 0-4 start to Big Ten play and a five-game losing streak, which continued Saturday when the Terps conceded 24 unanswered second-half points in a 37-30 Homecoming loss to Rutgers. The defeat, which took place in front of a sparse home crowd and marked the 20th loss in the program's past 22 Big Ten games, ultimately sealed Locksley's fate.
Maryland's defense has given up 219 points during its current five-game losing streak, and the Terps are ranked 133rd nationally in points allowed (33.3 per game) and 83rd in yards allowed.
Locksley's job had been under scrutiny for more than a year following back-to-back 4-8 finishes in 2024 and 2025.
Last November, Smith placed his support behind Locksley, bringing back the coach for an eighth season while promising improved resources in order to field a more competitive roster. The Terps added 15 transfers and the nation's 37th-ranked recruiting class during the offseason, headlined by No. 2 overall prospect Zion Elee, but results remained the same.
After Maryland logged season-opening wins over Hampton and UConn, the Terps lost 35-26 at home to Virginia Tech on Sept. 19, marking the beginning of a five-game skid. In the losses to Virginia Tech, UCLA, Nebraska, Ohio State and Rutgers, the Terps allowed an average of 43.8 points per game and fell by an average margin of 24.6 points per contest.
Maryland is winless in each of its past 13 games matchups against Power 4 opponents.
Locksley had multiple stints as an assistant at Maryland from 1997-2015 and served as the program's interim coach during the 2015 season. A Washington D.C.-native with deep local ties, he secured the permanent head coaching job ahead of the in 2019 campaign after three seasons on the coaching staff at Alabama.
His local roots translated to recruiting gains for Maryland, including the signatures of Elee and current starting quarterback Malik Washington. But after an initial jolt, Locksley's roster building never fully translated into on-field success. Maryland notched three winning campaigns and three bowl victories from 2021-23 before turning in consecutive four-win seasons.
"My connection to this region and the people who make this community special is something I will always value," Locksley said. "I appreciate everyone who has supported me and our entire program during my time at Maryland, and I wish the players, staff and the entire Maryland football community success in the future."
In his previous stint at Maryland, Abdul-Rahim played a big role in Maryland signing a consensus top-20 recruiting class in 2017 and a top-30 group in 2018. He has also worked for Jeff Hafley at Boston College, Nick Saban at Alabama and was the defensive coordinator at UMass.