Overview
- Smith confirmed the decision Sunday, informing Locksley and preparing to brief the team before releasing an open letter to fans.
- Maryland is 4-6 overall and 1-6 in the Big Ten after a six-game slide that followed a 4-0 start to the season.
- Firing Locksley this year would have triggered a buyout of more than $13 million under his contract.
- Leadership framed the investment around keeping a promising freshman core, highlighting quarterback Malik Washington and defensive ends Sidney Stewart and Zahir Mathis.
- An end-of-season review with Locksley and senior deputy AD Diana Sabau is planned, as the department seeks to close a reported football spending gap versus Big Ten peers.