Canada gets reins of Terps offense
Maryland hires former LSU offensive coordinator after speedy search process
The football coaching merry-go-round that has taken Matt Canada to seven schools in the past nine years stopped at Maryland on Tuesday.
Canada, 46, who as a first-time offensive coordinator at Northern Illinois in 2003 helped contribute to a season-opening upset of the Terps, was named to the same position in College Park.
Canada replaces Walt Bell, who left last week after two seasons under DJ Durkin to become the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Florida State.
“Matt has a unique ability to utilize any and all types of personnel, and still produce extremely explosive offenses,” Durkin said in a statement. “He’s a very versatile coach that has experience developing impact players at every offensive position. Matt’s had a great deal of success everywhere he’s been and we couldn’t be more thrilled to have him here at Maryland.”
Terms of Canada’s contract at Maryland were not announced.
Canada was reportedly the highest-paid assistant in the country last season at LSU, where he had signed a three-year deal for $1.5 million annually but left after just one season. His departure was reported to be mutually agreed upon with Tigers coach Ed Orgeron.
As part of the settlement with LSU, Canada reportedly will get $1.7 million this year, which could help make him more affordable for the Terps. Bell’s annual salary at Maryland was $507,000.
In a separate move, Durkin also announced that he has promoted wide receivers coach Chris Beatty to co-offensive coordinator.
Beatty, who has been credited with helping developing wide receiver DJ Moore into an All-Big Ten Conference selection, is also considered one of Maryland’s top recruiters.
“Chris is an integral part of our coaching staff and I’m excited to have him in this role,” Durkin said in the statement. “I’m proud of the work he’s done with our student-athletes and am happy to have him continue playing an instrumental role in the upward direction of the program.”
Beatty’s role as co-coordinator is likely to