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Maryland football rumors: Why Terrapins are refusing to fire Mike Locksley right now despite being a dead man walking

Maryland fired defensive coordinator Ted Monachino on Sunday, following the Terrapins’ 37-30 home loss to Rutgers in Week 7. The defeat marked Maryland’s fifth consecutive loss and extended its winless streak in Big Ten play to four games, dropping its overall record to 2-5.

Rutgers, meanwhile, secured its first Big Ten victory of the season and its second win overall, with quarterback Dylan Lonergan leading the charge and wide receiver KJ Duff delivering two touchdown catches, including a standout one-handed grab. Maryland’s defense, already ranked 83rd nationally in total defense, 84th in pass defense, 85th in rush defense, and 127th in scoring defense, struggled to contain Rutgers’ offense after blowing a 10-point halftime lead.

Monachino, who joined Maryland from North Carolina, spent two seasons with the Terrapins before his dismissal. His departure follows a season in which Maryland’s defense has been a liability, failing to improve despite Monachino’s prior experience at the NFL level, where he worked for the Baltimore Ravens, Indianapolis Colts, Atlanta Falcons, and Jacksonville Jaguars.

Head coach Mike Locksley acknowledged the change in a statement, saying, *“I appreciate Ted’s hard work and dedication to our program during his time in College Park. As I evaluate our program, I believe this change is necessary.

We wish Ted all the best moving forward.”* Co-defensive coordinator Aazaar Abdul-Rahim will assume interim play-calling responsibilities for the defense moving forward.

Locksley, now in his eighth season at Maryland, has compiled a 4-8 record in the 2024 and 2025 seasons, including a 2-20 mark in Big Ten games since the 2024 season. The program has not beaten a Power Four opponent in over a calendar year, and Maryland has not won a home Big Ten game in two years.

The firing of Monachino adds to the instability of a program that has struggled to regain its footing in the conference, with the defense ranking near the bottom of the nation in nearly every major statistical category. The loss to Rutgers further exposed Maryland’s inability to sustain momentum, as the Terrapins’ offensive and defensive performances combined to produce a season-low output.

The immediate aftermath of Monachino’s dismissal leaves Maryland’s defense in untested hands, with Abdul-Rahim stepping into the interim role. The Terrapins’ next challenge comes against Illinois on October 31, 2026, a game that will test whether the coaching changes yield any short-term improvements.

Maryland’s firing of Monachino follows a season of struggles

This report also draws on coverage from CBS Sports.

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