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Less than a month after firing its coach, Maryland could be zeroing in on the next bench boss to lead the football program.
Former Notre Dame and LSU head coach Brian Kelly has interviewed for the position, ON3 reported Saturday. The outlet added that he is considered a top name in the Terrapins’ search.
Kelly has not been in the coaching ranks since last season, when he was fired by the Tigers after going 34-14 over his three-plus-year tenure.
His ousting came with a reported $54 million buyout, and he was eventually replaced by Lane Kiffin.
Maryland has been on the hunt for a new leader after head coach Mike Locksley stepped down in October in what was called a “mutual decision” after the team started 2-5.
Aazaar Abdul-Rahim has served in an interim capacity and the team is 1-1 under his tutleage.
Since the LSU firing, Kelly has worked as a college football analyst for CBS Sports but has not been shy about showing his interest in returning to the field.
In late October, Kelly spoke glowingly of the position Maryland is in as a Big Ten school.
“From a conference standpoint, the Big Ten obviously has proved itself to have that kind of appeal, right?” Kelly said on SiriusXM’s college sports show.
“With Maryland, it is a fertile recruiting area. There’s no doubt that [the] DMV area is a really good recruiting area. I think they’ve done great things in terms of upgrading facilities.”
Kelly reiterated on the radio show in early November that while he did not want to make it a “mini commercial” for himself, he’s still interested in leading a program — if the fit is good.
“I would love to be able to be a head football coach again, and now it’s just a matter of if there is a right fit out there for me,” Kelly said.
Kelly, 65, was first a college assistant in 1983 and had been working continuously in the sport since — until this year.
In 22 years at the FBS level, he has a 200-76 record and has been recognized twice as the Associated Press Coach of the Year. Kelly has also expressed interest this fall in Florida State, saying that particular coaching the gig would be an “honor and privilege.”
