College coaching vacancies are beginning to disappear this week as quickly as they opened, and one of the biggest among them has been filled.
Michigan defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin has agreed to be the next head coach at Maryland, the school has confirmed. The hire was first reported by Sports Illustrated's Pete Thamel.
"... He has had success at some of the nation's most preeminent football programs, is recognized as one of the top recruiters in the country and is widely respected as one the top young coaches across the college football landscape," said Maryland athletic director Kevin Anderson.
The Terrapins fired Randy Edsall in midseason, following a 49-28 loss to Ohio State on Oct. 10. Durkin was a successful defensive assistant under Will Muschamp at Florida, and its defensive coordinator for two years from 2013-2014. He took over as interim coach after Muschamp was fired a year ago, then took a position as Jim Harbaugh's first defensive coordinator at Michigan this year.
The Maryland job had been one of two openings in the Big Ten Conference, along with Rutgers.
Durkin's defense at Michigan was the backbone of the team's 9-3 record and first-year resurgence under Harbaugh. Durkin oversaw the No. 4-ranked total defense among 127 FBS schools, allowing 281.3 yards per game. Edsall earned about $2.1 million in his last year as head coach of the Terps.
*Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter **@ChaseGoodbread*.
