Michigan defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin to be Maryland coach, report says

Colleen Thomas

Michigan defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin to be Maryland coach, report says image

Another coaching vacancy has been filled.

Sports Illustrated's Pete Thamel reports that Michigan defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin will be named head coach at Maryland. Durkin will replace Randy Edsall, who was fired Oct. 11 after starting the season 2-4 and compiling a 22-33 record with the Terrapins.

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Durkin spent one year as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Michigan under Jim Harbaugh. He inherited an already impressive defense — No. 7 in total defense in 2014 — and improved it, making it the fourth-ranked defense in the country. He coached two studs in Michigan's secondary in Jabrill Peppers and Jourdan Lewis, who both earned first-team All-Big Ten honors in 2015. Peppers was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year.

From 2010-2013, Durkin coached at Florida. He joined the staff as special teams coordinator and linebackers coach before his promotion to defensive coordinator in 2013. During his tenure, the Gators defense ranked eighth in the country in total defense in 2014 and Durkin coached first-team All-SEC players Vernon Hargreaves III and Dante Fowler Jr.

 

Colleen Thomas

Colleen Thomas Photo

Colleen Thomas is an Associate Editor at Sporting News. She joined Sporting News in 2014.