Maryland reverses, dumps Durkin

Day after return, football coach is bought out

Maryland parted ways with football Coach DJ Durkin on Wednesday evening, one day after he was reinstated. Durkin, who had been on administrative leave since Aug. 11 following media reports that outlined a culture of abuse, fear and intimidation that allegedly took place under his watch, was not fired for cause and will be bought out of his contract.

Maryland’s football program and athletic department have been the focus of scrutiny for months, following the death Jordan McNair, a 19-year-old football player who suffered exertional heatstroke at a team workout in late May and died several days later.

An exhaustive probe into the culture of the football program also highlighted dysfunction within the athletic department.

The decision to part ways with Durkin came following pushback from lawmakers and some players who voiced their displeasure with his reinstatement on social media. Student leaders criticized the decision, as have faculty members in College Park.

The University of Maryland informed the board of regents of its decision to fire Durkin but did not consult with the board. Athletics director Damon Evans told the team after practice Wednesday, according to multiple people with knowledge of the situation. Matt Canada will continue in his role as interim coach of the team.

Before Wednesday’s news broke, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan called on the state university system’s governing board to reconsider its decisions and said he was “deeply troubled by the lack of transparency.”

Loh, who on Tuesday announced he would retire from his post, said in a letter posted online he met with campus leaders and the “overwhelming majority of stakeholders” voiced “serious concerns” about Durkin’s return.

The regents presented Loh with an ultimatum of sorts: If he wanted to finish the school year and reach the end of his contract, he had to keep Durkin.

Durkin rejoined the team Tuesday and was initially expected to be back on the sideline Saturday against Michigan State. But the return was not a smooth transition.

Multiple people close to the program said several players walked out of his first meeting with the team.