Matt Brady to replace Dustin Clark on Maryland basketball staff

Maryland basketball assistant coach Dustin Clark is leaving the program and will be replaced by director of player personnel Matt Brady, the program announced Monday.

Clark had served in his assistant role since 2013 and was on Mark Turgeon’s staff as director of basketball operations when Turgeon was hired in 2011. He was previously a student assistant and staff member at Texas A&M, from which he graduated in 2007.

Clark explained his decision to leave the program in an interview with The Baltimore Sun’s Don Markus:

The reasons for Clark’s departure are related to family and lifestyle.

All of his family remains in Texas and Clark has an opportunity to join a family business there. Clark, who has three younger sisters, said he also wants to spend more time with his parents and siblings.

There is no indication he was forced to leave Maryland given the close relationship he has had with Turgeon. Clark is making $270,000 a year, according to a state salary database. Brady earned $63,000 in his role last season.

Clark said he was first approached in January by his stepfather with the possibility of going into the business. With the hectic pace of the season, as well as recruiting, Clark did not seriously consider the offer until after the last recruiting period ended.

“I’m going to miss being around our players, other coaches, and support staff on a daily basis,” he said. ”The best part of coaching are the special relationships that are developed as a result of battling together and going through the rigors of a season. I’ll especially miss the guys, but the relationships will last and I’m looking forward to continuing to help them, albeit in different ways.”

“When Dustin shared with me this opportunity, I knew it aligned with his entrepreneurial spirit and his desire to be close to his family,” Turgeon said in his statement. “Ann and I are excited for him and wish him all the best, and I look forward to continuing our friendship.”

Brady joined the Terps in the summer of 2017; after two years as an assistant at La Salle, his first season in College Park was spent in a behind-the-scenes role. He has head coaching experience at Marist from 2004-08 and James Madison from 2008-16.

This is the second assistant coach reshuffle in as many offseasons for the Terps. Kevin Broadus was brought on board to replace Cliff Warren—who was first moved to an administrative role before accepting an assistant position at Massachusetts—last spring. Bino Ranson, the third member of the group, has been at Maryland since 2010.

The Terps also announced Mark Bialkoski as their new director of basketball operations after three seasons as the team’s video coordinator. Nima Omidvar left that post this spring for an assistant job at South Alabama. A replacement for Brady has not yet been announced.