Mike Locksley just overhauled Maryland football's coaching staff, with one name missing. Here's how it looks
Coming off a disappointing 4-8 season and eyeing a rebound, Mike Lockley has reshuffled his staff, replaced several coaches and moved a few to new positions. Locksley announced his revamped staff on Thursday.
Coming off a disappointing 4-8 season and aiming for a rebound next fall, Mike Lockley has reshuffled his staff, replaced several coaches and moving a few to new positions. Locksley announced his revamped staff on Thursday.The news confirmed almost all of InsideMDSports' reporting on the new staff earlier this week. The only name missing was Ted Monachino, who sources have said is likely to replace departed defensive coordinator Brian Williams, who left in January for the same job at Jacksonville State. An NFL veteran who won a Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens during his 2010-2015 run there as linebackers coach, his name was not included in Maryland's press release, which didn't name a new defensive coordinator.
But there was a lot of movement elsewhere on the staff, which was expected after the team's poor play last season. Locksley, who interviewed for the New York Jets head coaching job earlier this offseason -- a move mocked by former Maryland star Boomer Esiason -- knows the Terps need to bounce back next season.
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"I'm very optimistic about the direction we'll be able to go. It's tough now, but we'll learn and be able to grow from some of the painful things we've had to go through," Locksley said after last season.
Here's the breakdown of Locksley's staff changes:
Established roles
Locksley previously announced his hiring of longtime NFL coach/offensive coordinator Pep Hamilton (more on his scheme and recruiting and his contract details).Aazaar Abdul-Rahim, the staff's top recruiter and the point man for five-star commit Zion Elee, will return as co-defensive coordinator and cornerback's coach.
Damian Wroblewski returns as offensive line coach. Technically, he's been promoted to the No. 1 spot after his co-offensive line coach last year, Brian Braswell, left the program during last season.
Hal Hunter hired (TEs and OTs)
Hunter, a longtime NFL coach, will replace Kevin Sumlin at tight ends coach and team with Damian Wroblewski coaching the offensive line. Via Maryland:Hunter brings over 40 years of coaching experience with him to College Park. He worked in the NFL from 2006-2022, most notably serving as the San Diego Chargers Offensive Coordinator during the 2012 season. Hunter spent seven seasons with the Chargers, helping the team to a 70-42 record during his time there, including an appearance in the 2008 AFC Championship game. Prior to his time in the NFL, Hunter held collegiate coaching positions at William & Mary, Pittsburgh, Columbia, Indiana (PA), Vanderbilt, LSU, Indiana and North Carolina. To read Hunter's full bio, click here.
Louis Swaba (promoted to running backs coach)
Swaba, who's been with the program in a supporting role, gets his big break with an opportunity to coach running backs. This position is typically filled by one of your better recruiters. He'll need to prove himself there in his first opportunity to recruit off-campus, but recruits have mentioned him often despite his limited role. He replaces Latrell Scott, who moved to a new position.Via Maryland: "Swaba has been with the Terrapins for all but one season since June of 2019, serving as a Quality Control Specialist and Senior Quality Control Specialist. He spent the 2021 season as a Quality Control Coach working with the offense at his alma mater, Appalachian State. Prior to Maryland, Swaba spent two seasons at East Carolina University (2017-19), first as a Quality Control Coordinator and then as an Offensive Analyst."
James Thomas to safeties
Thomas, Maryland's outside linebackers coach the past three seasons, makes the move to safeties. He replaces Zac Spavital, who was moved to inside linebackers after Lance Thompson left; he's expected to land at North Carolina under new coach Bill Belichick.Thomas was also Maryland's special team's coordinator, but the unit struggled last season, and he was replaced there when Locksley hired Andre Powell a month ago. Powell, who also coached at Maryland under Randy Edsall, has a strong track record coaching special teams elsewhere. He was originally rumored to become Maryland's new running backs coach, but that role was filled by Swaba.
Latrell Scott (moves from RBs to receivers)
It's a good thing Maryland retained Scott look has been one of the staff's best recruiters. The Virginia native broke through Maryland's longstanding struggles to get elite talent from neighboring Virginia by leading the recruitment of two of the state's top five prospects, offensive lineman Jaylen Gilchrist and safety Messiah Delhomme. He replaces Josh Gattis, who served as Maryland's offensive coordinator and receivers coach the past two seasons but wasn't renewed by Locksley.Corey Liuget (Defensive line, replaces Brian Williams)
Corey Liuget, who played for Illinois while Locksley was the Illini's offensive coordinator, has been promoted into Williams vacated defensive line coaching position. A former first-round pick of the San Diego Chargers, he was an analyst for Maryland last season.Via Maryland: "Liuget is entering his second season with the Terps and first as the Defensive Line Coach. A former first-round NFL Draft pick, Liuget spent a decade in the NFL before transitioning to coaching and quickly rising up the ranks. In his first season at Maryland, Liuget served as a Defensive Assistant, working closely with the defensive line. Liuget helped develop defensive linemen Tommy Akingbesote and Jordan Phillips, both of whom were invited to the 2025."
Analysts promoted
Locksley also announced he's promoted several staffers to bigger support roles that aren't technically full-on assistant roles, some of which are newly created. Derek Kief will serve as assistant wide receivers coach. With college programs allowed to increase their coaching staffs, Locksley has added some new positions.Via Maryland: Kief joined the Terps in April of 2024 as an Offensive Analyst and worked closely with the Maryland wide receiving corps last year. Kief mentored AP All-American Tai Felton, who was the Big Ten leader in catches and yards during the regular season. Felton set the Maryland school record for single season catches (96) this past season. A Cincinnati, Ohio native, Kief played wide receiver at Alabama from 2014-18, playing under Locksley for his final three seasons with the Crimson Tide."
