Maryland to hold Mike Locksley’s introductory press conference Thursday

Alabama offensive coordinator Mike Locksley will be introduced as Maryland’s head coach Thursday, a team spokesman announced in an email Tuesday night.

Locksley will be introduced to the media at 11 a.m. at Cole Field House, where athletic director Damon Evans will also be in attendance. Multiple sources reported that Locksley and Maryland agreed to do a deal before the university made it official Tuesday night. It was a busy day for Locksley, who won the Broyles Award for best assistant coach in the country earlier in the day.

Following a stint as Maryland’s offensive coordinator and later interim head coach from 2012-15, Locksley joined Alabama’s staff as an offensive analyst after being passed over for the permanent head coach position in favor of DJ Durkin. He was promoted to co-offensive coordinator the following year and took over the reigns after offensive coordinator Brian Daboll left for the same position with the Buffalo Bills. Led by quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama’s offense has shredded college football this season.

Despite a 3-31 career head coaching record that includes a disastrous stint both on and off the field at New Mexico, the move was praised by some current and former players and high school coaches. Locksley has a lot of connections in the region, and helped recruit some of the top players in the area to Maryland during his previous stint in College Park.

In other news

Here’s Lamar on why Locksley is the right choice for Maryland right now.

The Baltimore Sun has a roundup of what current and former players think of the decision.

Former Maryland running back Trey Edmunds has been added to the Steelers’ 53-man roster, He’ll join fellow Terps Darrius Heyward-Bey and Sean Davis.

Here’s a nice story from ABC7 about how Jeshaun Jones’ mom is writing a blog helping single parents understand the recruiting process.

Former Maryland offensive coordinator Walt Bell is now the head coach at UMass.

Maryland men’s soccer kept things light in its final home training session by playing handball.