After consecutive historic seasons for Maryland baseball, the Terps will have a new face leading the program next season.
Head coach Rob Vaughn is expected to become the next head coach at Alabama.
“I want to thank Rob Vaughn for his 10 years at Maryland as he has lifted the Terrapin program to heights we have never seen before,” athletic director Damon Evans said on Monday via release. “Rob led us to back-to-back Big Ten Championships and claimed both the Big Ten regular-season title and tournament crown this past season. During his 10 years with the Terps, we appeared in six NCAA Regionals, an unprecedented era in program history, and hosted the first-ever NCAA Regional in school history, last season. We wish Rob and his family the very best in their move to Tuscaloosa.”
In light of Vaughn’s coaching move, Maryland has announced Matt Swope as the new head coach. The former Maryland outfielder has been with the program since 2013 when he first started as the director of operations before being promoted to assistant coach in 2017, then associate head coach in 2022. During Swope’s time in College Park, Maryland has produced 17 All-Americans and 34 draft picks while he’s either coached or played in five of the winningest seasons in program history.
“We are excited to name Maryland alum Matt Swope as the new head coach of his alma mater,” said Evans via release. “Matt has been a vital part of the most successful era in Maryland baseball history, one where we set numerous records. He has been directly responsible for our offensive explosion over the last three years as we set records for runs scored, home runs, hits, RBI, slugging percentage, and walks. Being a hometown guy, I know what this means to Matt, being able to lead his beloved Terrapins. We are excited to welcome Matt and his family in this new role as we look to continue the wonderful momentum Maryland baseball has built in recent years.”
“This is truly a dream come true, to be named the head baseball coach at the University of Maryland,” said Swope. “Growing up just down the road from College Park, then playing for the Terps, returning to join the staff, and now being able to lead the Terps is something that means the world to me. I love this place and will work tirelessly to continue the winning ways we have made the standard for Maryland baseball. There is so much to be proud of and I can’t wait to coach that first game on Shipley Field at Bob ‘Turtle’ Smith Stadium as the head coach of the Maryland Terrapins.”
Vaughn finished 183-115 in six seasons with Maryland and guided the Terps to historic feats over the last two years. Maryland is coming off its first conference tournament title and consecutive regular season conference championships before ending the season in its third consecutive NCAA regional. Maryland became the first team to repeat as Big Ten regular season champions since Indiana did so back in 2013-14.
Maryland drew the two-seed in the Winston-Salem Regional before falling to George Mason in a season-ending 11-10 loss, finishing the season 42-21.
“We weren’t able to knock the door down the last three years,” Vaughn said in the season-ending press conference. “I’ll always wonder what I could’ve done differently to help get us through. The reality is, we’ll go our separate ways next week. This exact group of guys may never be in the same place at the same time again.”
Vaughn also signed a contract extension last year through June 2027 after being named Big Ten Coach of the Year, the first of two consecutive honors for the former Terps’ head coach.
In addition to Vaughn leaving the program, Maryland has also lost Caleb Estes, Bobby Zmarzlak and Zach Martin to the transfer portal over the last week.
Vaughn now fills a month-long vacancy after Alabama parted ways with former head coach Brad Bohannon last month. After six seasons with the program, Bohannon was dismissed following an investigation into betting activity in the Crimson Tide’s game against LSU last month. Six days after the game, Alabama promoted Jason Jackson as the interim manager.
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