Candidates to know for Maryland football after Mike Locksley's dismissal

7 hours ago

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A new chapter of Maryland football has arrived after the athletic department announced they have parted ways with Mike Locksley midway through the 2026 season. While the bye week gives an opportunity for interim head coach Aazaar Abdul-Rahim to calm the storm and Zac Spavital expected to step up as interim defensive coordinator, we take a look at the wave of names to know with the vacancy now official:

Jason Eck, New Mexico HC

Age: 49

Record: 14-5 (2 years)

Week 7:

Skinny: In year two with New Mexico and leading the Lobos to a 5-1 record in 2026, now 14-5 overall, Eck is fresh off being named a finalist for the 2026 Coach of the Year Award -- and for good reason. Eck has already tied the program record for the most wins by a Lobo head coach in his first two seasons in program history. He also became the first coach in program history to lead his team to a bowl appearance in year one. Eck also has ties to Maryland's current administration after being a finalist for the Utah State, adding early intrigue about his candidacy.

Jake Dickert, Wake Forest HC

Age: 43

Record: 38-25 (6)

Week 7: Bye week

Skinny: Maybe the hottest name in the coaching carousel in the country, Dickert has Wake Forest 14-5 (7-5) since taking over prior to the start of the 2025 season, including a Duke's Mayo Bowl and wins against a ranked Louisville squad and overtime road win vs. Purdue. The question is whether Maryland would be the job that moves Dickert, should he ultimately depart Wake Forest this offseason. Wake Forest enters this weekend ranked 17th nationally though on a bye before taking on Virginia.

Brian Hartline, USF HC

Age: 39

Record: 5-2 (1)

Week 7:

Skinny: A first year head coach, USF has struggled over the last month, which has dampened the outlook on the longtime ace recruiter at Ohio State. The latter is what’s notable given the Buckeye flavor that Maryland’s search could be part of the search, giving the obvious connections to admin. Maybe a pipedream candidate if USF was off to a hot start in year one, lack of HC experience and success will be what Hartline can prove in the search.

Bryant Haines, Indiana DC

Age: 41

Record: N/A

Week 7:

Skinny: a Broyles award winner last season, Haines has been with current Indiana head coach Curt Cignetti since 2014 at IUP with Haines then serving as both DL and strength and conditioning coach. After one season at UC Davis in 2016, Haines then re-joined Cignetti at Elon with the two paired ever since. He's emerged as a head coaching candidate even prior to the 2026 season, though this would mark his first head coaching opportunity, nonetheless at the Power Four level. Haines inked a new three year deal north of $3 million annually following the national championship 2025 season.

Charles Huff, Memphis HC

Age: 43

Record: 44-27 (6)

Week 7:

Skinny: The one who fans have pointed to for years as the sensible choice, Huff drew near-instant support from multiple local sources in the hours since news broke of Mike Locksley’s dismissal. The rationale is clear given Huff is from the area, has Big Ten experience from his time as associate HC/RBs coach at Penn State under James Franklin, also worked under Saban at Alabama and has found success as a head coach himself. Five of Huff’s six seasons as head coach have ended in winning years. The pushback for the 43 year old is whether he’s proven as a head coach at the Power Four level — and three jobs in three years. That requires context, though, given Huff’s divorce with Marshall ended after an expected contract never came to fruition despite a 10-3 (7-1) finish, which led him to southern Miss before getting a better G5 job at Memphis ahead of this season.

Dan Mullen, UNLV HC

Age: 54

Record: 117-68 (15)

Week 7:

Skinny: His four-year tenure at Florida ended as just his third losing season over his coaching tenure. After a stint in broadcasting, Mullen returned to college football where he owns a 14-7 (8-3) record through two seasons. Mullen also has connections to the administration through consultant and longtime OSU AD Gene Smith that make this a familiar name for those in College Park, even if this would mark Mullen’s second stint as a head coach candidate at Maryland. He’s worth tracking through the process.

Billy Napier, James Madison HC

Age: 47

Record: 69-35 (9)

Week 7:

Skinny: The last two coaches at James Madison turned out to be successful in the Big Ten with Curt Cignetti at Indiana and Bob Chesney at UCLA. The expectation is Napier will draw P4 head coaching looks, though how serious any will be considered at this juncture remains to be seen. Yet Napier has the Dukes clicking on all cylinders as one of the few remaining unbeatens in 2026, though the 22-23 record during his four seasons at Florida -- featuring one winning season -- adds a question mark.

Mike Shanahan, Indiana OC

Age: 36

Record: N/A

Week 7:

Skinny: an exciting young name who has drawn head coaching buzz in 2026, Shanahan is from the Curt Cignetti tree where the Pa. native has been with the current Indiana coach since 2016, with Cignatti as IUP's head caoch and Shanahan as the WR coach. Would he jump for another Big Ten job? Would Maryland turn to a coordinator with no head coaching experience? Similar to Haines, Shanahan is also on a new three year deal worth north of $1.5 million annually.

Lance Taylor, Western Michigan HC

Age: 45

Record: 25-21 (4)

Week 7:

Skinny: Two impressive seasons has cemented the 45 year old as a head coaching candidate to know this hiring cycle. How likely that is to be Maryland remains to be seen, but his rise has been impressive after his 10-4 (7-1) record was followed up with what should have been an upset over Michigan to open the season, while now sitting 5-2 (3-0) heading into the weekend.

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