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Maryland football fires defensive coordinator after 5th straight loss

Maryland football coach Michael Locksley made a significant personnel change Sunday, dismissing defensive coordinator Ted Monachino just one day after the Terps suffered their fifth straight loss, a 37-30 defeat to Rutgers. Monachino, who joined the program in March 2025 and previously coached in the NFL—including a Super Bowl win with the Ravens—had led Maryland’s defense to 19 interceptions and 21 takeaways in Big Ten play, yet the unit has collapsed in conference games, allowing 43.8 points per contest over five consecutive losses.

The Terps, now 2-5 overall and 0-4 in the Big Ten, surrendered 24 unanswered points in the second half against Rutgers after leading 23-13 at halftime, continuing a trend of second-half meltdowns that has cost them 92-13 in Big Ten games this season alone. Locksley cited the need for program evaluation in his decision, with Aazaar Abdul-Rahim and Zac Spavital stepping in as co-defensive coordinators to stabilize a defense that has surrendered at least 35 points in each of Maryland’s last five games, including blowouts against UCLA, Nebraska, and Ohio State.

The move raises further questions about Locksley’s future, as his eighth season at Maryland has been marked by defensive struggles and a 16-47 record in Big Ten play. Monachino’s departure marks the first coaching change of a season in which Maryland has lost 12 straight conference games, dating back to last year.

With five games remaining and a bye week ahead, the Terps will now look to Abdul-Rahim and Spavital to turn around a defense that has been a major liability in critical moments.

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