Maryland AD Jim Smith explains backing Mike Locksley, what additional resources in 2026 means

Ahmed Ghafir
5 minutes ago
4 min read

Nearly one week after backing Mike Locksley as head coach in 2026, Maryland AD Jim Smith explained his decision on 105.7 during his appearance on Thursday.

“Look, I said it for the entire year. I believe in Locks. I'm confident that we have the right foundations in place. I look at the recruiting class and see what is coming, what we're going to keep, what we're going to be able to retain. I'm in the locker room and watching practice - the energy is still really good. All the pieces are there. The results haven't been where we want, but the pieces are really coming into place. And so at that point in time, you just had to make sure everybody knew we're confident in where we're going. Make sure all our recruits know that we are the place they want to be. Maryland is going to win in football. We're going to compete. And we just needed to make sure everybody knew that now.”

But as big of a question as Locksley’s status in 2026 is the source of the additional resources ahead of the offseason with Blueprint Sports operating the NIL and PlayFly handling Maryland's corporate sponsorships. Smith shed light on what that looks like with the offseason looming.

“New funds coming from NIL deals and I think that's part of it. Those are outside the department funds. Those aren't department funds that we've been working on for, really, the four months that I got here, is building out our NIL program. And the reason why he didn't have them last year is because they didn't exist," Smith admitted. "So now we've got companies and people really getting behind football. And I feel really confident that those resources will make a difference for next year.”

Smith was also asked about Locksley’s contract, which runs through 2028.

“I think if you ask any coach in any sport, doesn't matter whether it's football or any sport, I think everybody knows or any athletic director, we're all in the year to year business. So look, our contracts may say we're in until 2030 but the reality is, hey, look, it can change at any point in time. That's not suggesting it's going to - we've got three more years with Locks. Really excited to see how our three-year plan goes together. But we all know the reality of the job that we're in.”

More from Smith:

On Maryland basketball’s comeback win vs. Mount St. Mary’s

“Give the Mount some credit for shooting the three because my gosh, every time they took a shot, it seemed like it went in from three and they hung, they competed the whole game, but really proud of the effort of the Terps. When you look across the court and you see the number of guys out with injury - I think we had eight players dressed last night…a lot of guys are getting a lot of time. We have more than eight. We probably had 10 dressed, but eight that played. A lot of guys getting a lot of time, putting them, stretching them into overtime. And then Diggy just had, he had the best game ever in the XFINITY, 41 points and was just on fire. Had a great game all the way around. Really proud of the effort. Buzz is coaching at a level that for what he's having to deal with, with all the injuries, he's really getting it done for the Terps. And then somehow the crowd just kind of erupted in the middle of the first half, and we got some news. It was great.”

On the Players Era Festival next week

“Great tournament, going to continue to get bigger every year. Glad we're a part of it. Big test on the road, two really good games. And I think, we're showing that we can play in close games and we can win close games. So we just got to go out and play like we've been playing and shoot the ball well and play some defense. And we're going to get some wins. Coach has really done a good job pulling this team together in a really short period of time.”

On Maryland men’s soccer in the NCAA Tournament

“Sasho has done a great job with soccer here for a long period of time. And this team is pretty special. So we're going to host the game on Sunday afternoon here at College Park. It'll be the second round of the tournament. We have a bye in the first one, and we're going to play the winner of a game that's being played tonight between North Florida and North Carolina. So we're excited to host that winner here on Sunday and continue what we hope is the march to the Final Four in Cary, North Carolina a little later this year.”

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