Mike Locksley & Maryland Football Coaches Association- Q & A

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Michael Locksley returned home to become the University of Maryland’s 37th head football coach in December 2018. Locksley, a Washington, D.C. native with deep personal and professional connections to the area, has nearly 30 years of coaching experience and 2020 will be his 12th season with the Terps over three separate stints at Maryland. The winner of the 2018 Broyles Award, given to the nation’s top assistant coach, Locksley spent three years working under Nick Saban at the University of Alabama before taking the head coaching job at Maryland. He served as the Crimson Tide’s co-offensive coordinator and won a national championship in 2017 before being promoted to offensive coordinator in 2018 and helping Alabama return to the College Football Playoff. Locksley spent the 2016 season on the Crimson Tide's staff as an offensive analyst. Prior to Alabama, Locksley served as Maryland’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach from 2012-15. He was named the Terps interim head coach for the final six games of the 2015 season. Prior to Maryland, Locksley served as the head coach at the University of New Mexico from 2009-11. Before that, Locksley also served as the offensive coordinator at the University of Illinois from 2005-08. The Illini went from No. 72 nationally in total offense in 2005 to 19th following the 2008 season. They led the Big Ten in rushing in 2006 and 2007 and then led the league in passing in 2008. The rushing attack was twice ranked in the top-10 nationally (No. 10 in 2006 and No. 5 in 2007). Locksley spent the 2003 and 2004 seasons at the University of Florida as the running backs coach and recruiting coordinator. In 2004, Gators' running back Ciatrick Fason led the SEC and ranked 19th in the NCAA in rushing (105.6 yards a game) on his way to second-team all-league honors. In his first stint at Maryland from 1997-2002, Locksley enjoyed success both recruiting and grooming players in College Park. He oversaw the running backs during his entire tenure, including the final five as recruiting coordinator. Three different running backs - Chris Downs, Bruce Perry and LaMont Jordan - gained more than 1,000 yards and were named First Team All-Atlantic Coast Conference. He began his coaching career at Towson in 1992, where he coached defensive backs and special teams, followed by two seasons at the U.S. Naval Academy Preparatory School. He coached outside linebackers at the University of the Pacific in 1995 and then coached wide receivers and tight ends at Army in 1996.