Maryland parts ways with coach Mike Locksley

Maryland ended Mike Locksley’s tenure as football coach Wednesday after a 2-5 start and a 37-30 home loss to Rutgers, naming assistant Aazaar AbdulRahim interim head coach. The announcement came four days after the defeat, which extended the Terrapins’ losing streak to five games and left them without a Big Ten win this season. Maryland Athletics described the departure as a mutual decision following conversations with Locksley. Other reports characterized it as a firing. The accounts differ on how the separation occurred; the school’s public statement said the two sides agreed to part ways. Locksley was seven games into his eighth season leading Maryland. The school said it would begin a national search for a permanent successor immediately. AbdulRahim, a member of Locksley’s staff since 2024, will lead the team in the interim. He previously coached at Maryland from 2016 to 2018 and has served as a defensive coordinator, associate head coach of the defense and cornerbacks coach during his return. The loss to Rutgers followed defeats to Virginia Tech, UCLA, Nebraska and Ohio State. Maryland led Rutgers 23-13 at halftime before the Scarlet Knights scored 24 consecutive points....