Maryland Football Scoop: Former ACC assistant on the radar
Despite significant offseason movement, it's been relatively quiet around the Maryland football program as Mike Locksley plans for a bounce-back year. But there's a major unknown at the defensive coordinator position vacated by Brian Williams ... Until now?
Despite significant offseason movement, it's been relatively quiet around the Maryland football program as Mike Locksley plans for a bounce-back year. But there's a major unknown at the defensive coordinator position vacated by Brian Williams ... Until now?
I'm hearing Ted Monachino is a candidate to become Maryland's new defensive coordinator. Monachino was in College Park recently and Locksley needs to get the role filled before long, so he could be the guy for the job. Though it's possible he's being eyed for another spot, potentially as an analyst, with potential for a promotion of Locksley doesn't find another coordinator he likes for the job.
Monachino served as UNC's defensive line coach last season, but along with the rest of the staff, he was back on the market after Bill Belichick was hired to replace Mack Brown and brought in his own staff.
"I really believe that Jeff Collins and Monachino, the defensive line played a lot better," a source close to the UNC program said. "It was just, Mack Brown was behind the eight ball to start the season, and they needed to pull off some special things for the staff to survive."
Monachino, 58, is a Missouri native who played at Mizzou. UNC's defense ranked third in the ACC is sacks last season. He's not an established recruiter, but at this stage, with recruiting going well but needing improvement in 2025, Locksley needs a strong tactician more than a recruiting ace.
In 2006, in his first NFL job, Monachino was defensive line coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Working under then-head coach Jack Del Rio, Monachino helped the Jaguars develop a strong defensive front that ranked among the league's top run defenses. But locals might remember him for his time with the Baltimore Ravens, where he was the linebackers coach from 2010-2015, working with Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Lewis and future Hall of Famer Terrell Suggs and winning Super Bowl XLVII.
Under Monachino, Suggs won the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award in 2011 after recording 14 sacks and seven forced fumbles. Monachino's ability to develop elite pass rushers became one of his defining traits as a coach.
In 2016, Monachino was promoted to defensive coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts. His tenure with the Colts lasted two seasons before he returned to a position coaching job with other teams, including the Chicago Bears and Atlanta Falcons.
Monachino transitioned back to college football when he joined Missouri's staff in 2023. He spent a year at UNC as an analyst before moving to defensive line coach.
