Maryland hires Terry Richardson as new running backs coach, per report

Maryland has filled their only coaching vacancy this offseason, hiring Terry Richardson to replace Andre Powell as the team's running backs coach Tuesday, SI's Thayer Evans is reporting. Richardson was Randy Edsall's running backs coach at Connecticut during the head coach's entire tenure at the school, from 1999-2010. He's produced a number of NFL running backs (including Donald Brown and projected second round pick Duke Johnson) and has considerable recruiting experience in Florida, and appears to be a very good hire for the Terrapins.

Richardson helped lead Syracuse to three bowl berths during his career as a running back, playing at the school from 1990-93. Edsall was the team's defensive backs coach for Richardson's first year on campus, and the two later ended up in the NFL at the same time -- Edsall as the Jaguars' DB coach and Richardson as a player for the Bengals, Eagles, Chiefs and Steelers.

Richardson was hired by Edsall after the conclusion of his pro career and stayed with UConn throughout their transition from I-AA school to Big East Champions. After Edsall departed for Maryland, Richardson joined the staff at Miami, where he spent three years before being hired by the Jaguars. Jacksonville ranked No. 21 in rushing yards this season, and he and the team parted ways after just one year.

He produced a number of excellent running backs during his time in the college ranks, and was nominated for the Broyles Award (given to college football's top assistant) in 2010. Basically, if Richardson is on your staff, you have a pretty good chance of having one of the best running backs in the nation. Notable coaching achievements include:

• All-American Donald Brown, who led the nation in rushing in 2008, won the Big East Offensive Player of the Year Award and became a first round NFL Draft pick. Brown is currently on the Chargers.
• All-American Jordan Todman, who ran for over 1,000 yards twice in his career, scoring 28 touchdowns in his final two seasons and winning the Big East Offensive Player of the Year Award in 2010. Todman is currently with the Jaguars.
• Andre Dixon, who made first-team All-Big East in 2007, and ran for over 1,000 yards in 2009 (as did Todman). That year, UConn was one of just three FBS schools with multiple 1,000-yard rushers.
• Lamar Miller, who ran for 1,272 yards for Miami in 2011 (third-most in school history at the time) and just finished a breakout season with the Dolphins.
• Duke Johnson, who set freshman records at Miami in 2012 and was named the ACC Rookie of the Year. Hampered by injuries in 2013, he still averaged 6.3 yards per carry.