{
  "id": 15924935,
  "title": "Maryland’s Mike Locksley Is First FBS Coach Fired, Owed Nearly $10M",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/marylands-mike-locksley-is-first-fbs-coach-fired-owed-nearly-10m",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-21T17:24:21.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Front Office Sports",
    "slug": "front-office-sports",
    "url": "https://frontofficesports.com/article/maryland-mike-locksley-firing-owed-10m/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "On Wednesday, Maryland's football team made history by becoming the first in-season head coach to be fired in the 2026 college football season. Coach Mike Locksley, who had been with the program for eight years, was dismissed after a 2-5 record in his most recent season. This came after back-to-back 4-8 seasons in 2024 and 2025, bringing his overall record during his tenure to 39-54. The University of Maryland is currently on a week-long break following a loss to Rutgers, their fifth consecutive defeat. Locksley was asked about how he would like to be remembered if his final game was his last, but declined to provide a response. He expressed his commitment to the players and his dedication to giving them his best effort until told otherwise. The coach is owed nearly $10 million in buyout money, with $4.9 million of that due within 60 days. The buyout terms are straightforward with no mitigation or offset obligations. Defensive coordinator Aazaar Abdul-Rahim is set to assume interim coaching responsibilities, having previously served as co-defensive coordinator with Ted Monachino. This marks the first head coaching change in Maryland's history, signaling a shift in the university's football program. The 2026 offseason has been notably quiet in terms of coaching changes, with the first firing occurring before October 1 for the first time since 2019. In the previous season, eight coaches were let go before October, totaling more than $60 million in buyout payments. Maryland Athletic Director Jim Smith pledged to provide the necessary resources for the football program to succeed under interim leadership.",
  "summary": "$4.9 million is due to Locksley within 60 days.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}