Brian Kelly emerging as top candidate for Maryland head-coaching job

Brian Kelly. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Brian Kelly emerging as top candidate for Maryland head-coaching job

By Andrew Wright | Last updated Nov 14, 2026 11:43 AM ET

It appears that the Maryland Terrapins have locked in on the top candidate for their head-coaching vacancy.

Maryland fired head coach Mike Locksley after seven seasons amid a disastrous 2-5 start to the 2026 season. The timing of the move gave the Terps plenty of time to conduct a head-coaching search, and the latest report Saturday indicates that the search may soon be coming to a close.1

Brian Kelly is a top target for Maryland

According to college football insider Pete Nakos, former Notre Dame and LSU head coach Brian Kelly has emerged as a top candidate for the head coaching vacancy. Nakos also reported that Kelly recently interviewed for the job and is a top name to know in the search.

Kelly most recently coached at LSU from 2022-2025 and was fired eight games into last season after beginning 5-3. Overall, he has a career coaching record of 179-76 with a national championship game appearance and 10 wins in bowl games

NEW: Former LSU and Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly interviewed for the Maryland head coaching job recently, @PeteNakos reports.

Kelly is emerging as a top name to know in the search.https://t.co/ihHegcE6eN pic.twitter.com/DRoo8UnlMH
— On3 (@On3) November 14, 2026

Will the Terps be able to outbid other schools if there's interest?

Kelly would certainly be an excellent choice to come in and stabilize what has been a struggling program in recent seasons. There is a chance, though, that bigger schools with more money will reach out and express their interest in Kelly.

One of those places could be Florida State, an opening that Kelly has previously expressed his own interest in. If the Seminoles reach out with interest, they almost certainly have more resources and would be able to throw more money at Kelly than a lower-tier program like Maryland would be able to.

Fighting off other schools may be the hardest thing for Maryland to do when trying to hire Kelly. If the Terps can manage to sway him away from other places, Kelly could be extremely impactful in helping Maryland revamp its football program in the coming years.

Andrew Wright

Andrew "Dew" Wright graduated from Charleston Southern University with a degree in Communication Studies. He is a lifelong Chicago Cubs and Washington Commanders fan.

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