After four seasons as the head coach of Maryland volleyball, Steve Aird is leaving for Indiana.
The program announced Aird’s resignation, effective immediately, on Wednesday. Here’s the statement from the now-former coach:
“It has been a great honor and privilege to lead the Maryland volleyball program over the last four years. I’m very encouraged about the strides we’ve made and the future of Maryland volleyball. I’m very proud of our student-athletes, who represented this program with great class and dignity both in the classroom, on the court and in the community. I’ll be forever grateful to Damon Evans, my coaching staff, our administration and our great fans for their continued support and encouragement. This was a gut-wrenching decision, but I feel like this was in the best interest for me and my family."
Maryland seemed poised to reach new heights under Aird, who brought in a top-20 recruiting class in 2016 and a top-10 class in 2017. This fall, the Terps started to show the results that come with such an influx of talent, posting an 18-14 record, but were the first team out of the NCAA Tournament. With nearly all of this year’s roster slated to return in 2018, Maryland was—and likely still is—expected to reach its first postseason since 2005.
But Aird won’t be there to lead the way. It’s still unclear at the moment what’s behind this, and it’s certainly stunning to see him jump to another team in the Big Ten, let alone Indiana, whom Maryland beat twice this season (a sweep in Bloomington and a four-set win in College Park). The Terps will now shift their focus on finding a successor and keeping their core in place for the seasons to come.
"We will immediately begin a national search and will work to find a dynamic leader to continue to move the program forward,” interim athletic director Damon Evans said in Maryland’s release. “We wish Steve, his wife Brandy, and their family the very best."