Maryland fired head coach Mike Locksley on Wednesday, Oct. 21, ending his tenure with a 39-54 overall record and a 17-52 mark in Big Ten play. The Terrapins had won only two conference games since the start of the 2024 season and were 2-5 overall (0-4 in the Big Ten) this year.
Aazaar Abdul-Rahim was named interim head coach and lost his debut 20-17 to Illinois on a 26-yard walk-off field goal.
The program has turned its attention to potential replacements. According to InsideMDSports, Wake Forest head coach Jake Dickert has emerged as a leading candidate. Dickert, who left Washington State for Wake Forest after the 2024 season, posted an 8-4 record in his final year at Pullman. He is 15-5 (8-5 ACC) midway through his second season with the Demon Deacons, who have won their last four ACC games by a combined score of 187-31.
Jack Sheehan of InsideMDSports noted that Dickert's defensive background and ability to build competitive teams without top-tier recruiting classes fit Maryland's needs. However, Sheehan added that persuading Dickert to leave a power-conference job where he has already found early success would require a compelling offer and resources.
The hot board includes several other unnamed candidates, one described as having "one of the most accomplished head-coaching résumés on this board."
