Maryland hires Michigan defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin head coach
The Maryland Terrapins hired Michigan defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin as their new head coach, replacing Randy Edsall.
Michigan Wolverines defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin has been hired as the new head coach at Maryland, according to Pete Thamel and Thayer Evans of Sports Illustrated.
Durkin replaces Randy Edsall who was fired after losing to Ohio State and falling to 2-4 on the season. Mike Locksley served as the interim head coach to close out the season as the Terps finished with a 3-9 record after going 7-6 last year, their first in the Big Ten.
In comes Durkin who spent last season working under Jim Harbaugh at Michigan after working previously under Urban Meyer as a linebackers and special teams coach with the Florida Gators and later added the title of defensive coordinator on Will Muschamp’s staff in 2013. When Muschamp was fired by Florida last year, Durkin served as the interim head coach for the team’s bowl game against East Carolina.
Durkin made the most of his one year in Ann Arbor, leading Michigan to the nation’s No. 11 scoring defense, No. 4 total defense and the No. 3 pass defense.
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He’ll take over a Maryland program that has a lot of promise and potential with a solid recruiting base and facilities to attract some of the top recruits along the eastern seaboard and the fertile DMV area.
His experience under Meyer and Harbaugh is undoubtedly an attractive thing as Durkin branches out for his first head coaching job. Plus, he brings a fire and passion similar to his former bosses and is an ace recruiter.
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I would expect Durkin to hire an offensive coordinator who runs a similar offense to the power spread that Ohio State runs so his offensive coordinator hire will be imperative to complement what figures to be a strong defense.