# Maryland fires Mike Locksley after 2-5 start as Terrapins become first Power Four opening

> **Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-10-21 16:40 UTC · Category: Sports

## Executive Summary
Maryland and head coach Mike Locksley part ways following a 2-5 start, launching a high-profile Power Four coaching search.

## Intelligence Brief
Recent reporting indicates that Maryland and head coach Mike Locksley have mutually agreed to part ways. The decision brings immediate changes to the leadership of the football team, altering the trajectory of the season and drawing widespread attention across collegiate sports media. Coverage of the parting and the subsequent coaching search appears across multiple sports news outlets. According to reporting from CBS Sports and WJLA, attention has quickly shifted to potential successors for the position.


CBS Sports outlines several coaching candidates under consideration to replace Mike Locksley, explicitly identifying figures such as Jake Dickert and Billy Napier among the potential options for the university. The outlets detail the immediate aftermath of the announcement, focusing heavily on the logistics of the transition and the names emerging in connection with the vacancy. The reports from CBS Sports and WJLA frame this opening within the broader ecosystem of coaching changes, highlighting how early-season struggles can precipitate immediate leadership shifts at major institutions. Future developments will depend on the official actions taken by the university regarding the recruitment and hiring of a new head coach.


Existing coverage does not yet specify a definitive timeline for the selection process or interview schedule involving the named candidates like Jake Dickert and Billy Napier. Observers and fans will monitor subsequent announcements from Maryland athletic officials to track how the search progresses and who ultimately assumes leadership of the Terrapins program.

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|
| CBS Sports | Maryland football coaching search 2026: Candidates, hot board, names to watch from Terrapins experts | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi3wFBVV95cUxQODJwUDM0UTUxc2t5ZWQtTjZwN24xUHVfd0VBUGhZWmZxUlJoUlVRZ09nSWkxWm1UTVlZeFpRdk9DZ1BDNE92dnpXdTRJcEhRaHRFV0hETjMxaFk0THB0Ym5fbFZnc3FhaUNILVlhdnFVb1A5TW9fdDExZFAxUWxDVm5XREdTcmJ2Q0pKXy1oWlNYSzc1XzBZRi16VTlVVWE3dk9peU9RNml5QzJ2ckxkcW1PRmd4S1V4ZHNKTlNsc0VWNDZyRTBVVFhTSkpHWG5YVElNNmxrMVdYbDZ3OFNv?oc=5) |
| Sports Illustrated | Ten Candidates for Maryland Football Coaching Search After Mike Locksley Firing | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMitAFBVV95cUxPXzE2aDdfd1BuVjUzQmVqb0ZzeTJaMHVSR3BKQ3U1cGlfb3NTUUV1ZVFVTHE4eXR3OU12b2NFVEFTX2NVOHdOWFF2N0MzaDNJMmtKbzhiS0dGYUFjQ3RONXYyWHRVTWhPWjViTExBaWhmRENWSFR6WkotdWFQMk5tUDVuaE5LNk04NXBkUmlSWmhKZWNZdk96M0xvSDNpUm1CR0xLb1ZRbUZCV2VPNDVPaHJlVGQ?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | 4 players Michigan Football could target after Maryland fires Mike Locksley | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiigFBVV95cUxNQ0xnU0hnTHpjMWdjejZFX0dMTnkwdlVjNGUxaVNpUTBwRGRLb1BPSUtRSkk3SXRJX1MtNU5XZW94Y0ZRMlFFRkNkUEZoVnZ2LVc0Y2EwR0t5NUdKeXNMSWF1ZzdlMUF5b2I1cXdhdFM1amV0ZEx6NWpGRFowQUo5ZXFJTWdCeDI2clE?oc=5) |
| TribLIVE.com | Michael Locksley is out as Maryland football coach after Terrapins lose fifth straight game | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMivAFBVV95cUxOSlJ6U2hOX0lwT0M0MGs0Q0N4blQxal85b204N0hDNThkTGpNbllrR2NPdU4zU2pobG1CbmoxYVRlb1g5YVBvM0ZmVU5xellpVGlqRW9uLXQxV2g0ZzZxX3A1YlowOC1LMEhhdG9MWl9EdFBITWVOVVBodFMxWmoxbmEyeGZieWQ5R0lfNkN6MFhHTFZVNTYxNEhyb2lCSWE0ODQ2cUhJR0pYdkVuYkp1aTNNTzZ2M2JQN2gwNg?oc=5) |
| ESPN | Maryland fires Mike Locksley: Top candidates and roster priorities | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMijgFBVV95cUxOR3JrTHZGeUpRMUlvRm1UMVpWSk5xVVJTRFhrblk0dkpScUVKRS02LWxzUXRmUjdMYVNWLWl3eS04emtXN2k2NzE5MV9vNHVLeEdGcTRpdlVKdzhFSVlGazcycms0NmItOEVwbTF4OG5CR3VkXzdZRHE4Q3FvN1FpR2M0a3N0UTd2SkFpZ1lB?oc=5) |
| The New York Times | How good is the Maryland football coaching job? Sizing up the first vacancy of the season | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMipgFBVV95cUxNYUZFaS1SMGYzeFJ1Sy1PU00wVnR6aVA1NFYxVUNYeUgzNjY2aGtIa0FyelFHeF9OeUg3SVcydDNqc2Rad2t6Y0Via1ZseTM0TkZxc3ZjZG80NFYxQks0N083cUFQYUhvTHVDSWRLLVRKbHlYUlN1RXJ4Qm5yeUpndDFBSURqXy1PS3Y5OXpvMTVhZm5nQ09oeEtlNXcxQnFjV1JQNzln?oc=5) |
| Bleacher Report | Mike Locksley Fired as Maryland HC After Loss to Rutgers amid 2-5 Record | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMisAFBVV95cUxORHBpcS1sRVltb0wyRFJtX2stTWV0X3huNmp1Rk1hcEhQcVdrMzd5c051ckNQcG9RdEpCUWFPRGx5OHVIeGY4RG5xVU03cnFLY1dXYW5KSUpPWmpTN2FBUGFVTlV1bzd6MkZ0aWFjOFVFXy16ZU5ZSEs2MnR3elhjMVFnVUdJdHNKbnotelhiTUFhVHFZZlhTMHdKbFU0dEUxZ0pOODBoTE1BcHVwUU9zRw?oc=5) |
| CBS Sports | Maryland coaching candidates: Jake Dickert, Billy Napier among options to replace Mike Locksley | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMipgFBVV95cUxPNzEzWWt4U2IzMzNyU0swSHVsZ1g3U1BaN2R1NHFLeUJnSFp3TFhyTUl1MFZIZ0p4akxEU3ViSHhPN1NTVTdpSkhocDlMWTB5ZzZNWm9BcmRLb2xIX0RRSy00VE5mbWlaV3BLUFpoQldIN1I4NUNBRTQySTU4YXY1SjhSMjRjT19lMHp2MU5wRnIyZFl4b0loVkZMZm45bWswYVI5VUh3?oc=5) |
| WJLA | Maryland, head coach Mike Locksley mutually agree to part ways | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMigwFBVV95cUxOZzUycFhsSmVabHNUek9MdmxGWm14M0QzMFozaUwzN0hoM19mT2xxSEZZNk1sWVRPcEtnWFdFT2ItQkNkaWtQRV81ak1ST21scWR2Q0ZDUml5VDQ1bUVaUVZnRDhPMU1Kc1JhdURKQlZyRk9FYzkyUS1jbVhObXRlTFY4cw?oc=5) |

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*Canonical Source: https://pulse.byoviral.com/trend/2026-10-21/maryland-fires-mike-locksley-after-2-5-start-as-terrapins-become-first-power*