Maryland fired Mike Locksley after a 2-5 start, opening a search for its next football coach. Wake Forest’s Jake Dickert is among the publicly identified candidates, though his recent success and current power-conference job could make him difficult to lure. The rest of the reported hot board is not disclosed in the available details.

By the Numbers
  • Locksley’s Maryland record: 39-54 overall and 17-52 in Big Ten play.
  • Maryland has won just 2 Big Ten games since the start of the 2024 season.
  • The Terps were 2-5 overall and 0-4 in the Big Ten when Locksley was fired.
  • Dickert is 14-5 at Wake Forest, including a 7-5 ACC record.
Yes, But

Dickert’s defensive background and record of building competitive teams are potential fits for Maryland. But he has already found early success at Wake Forest, so Maryland would need to make a compelling case and provide the resources to persuade him to leave.

What's Next

Maryland will pursue candidates from its coaching hot board. Dickert is one name to watch, but the other candidates—and the coach described as having one of the board’s strongest résumés—remain undisclosed.

Bottom Line

Maryland needs a coach who can raise the program’s competitive floor; identifying a target is only the first step, and landing one with a strong current job may require a convincing offer.