Jim Smith calls Terps head football job ‘incredibly attractive.’ It’s Aazaar Abdul-Rahim’s for now.

There are far more important questions about the future of Maryland’s football program than how they’ll perform Saturday against Illinois, or how the team will adjust schematically to snap its five-game losing streak.

Sure, it matters. But more pressing questions include: How can the Terps build a sustainable winner in this era of college football after the departure of Michael Locksley last Wednesday? And who will they hire as head coach to help answer the first question?

Athletic director Jim Smith is confident those questions will be answered in due time. In fact, in his first press conference since Locksley’s exit, Smith boasted Tuesday about the school’s head coaching opening. He called the role “an incredibly attractive job” and said he’s been receiving calls since last week.

“The volume of inbound calls and texts have been enormous,” Smith said. “There’s not an agency that represents coaches that hasn’t already reached out with a possible candidate.”

Locksley finished with a 38-49 record and only recorded three seasons above .500 since returning to College Park in December 2018, though the Terrapins did win all three bowl games they played in under him. This year, following back-to-back 4-8 seasons, the Terps won their first two games before losing five straight entering the bye week.

That gave Smith time to ensure he wasn’t making an emotional decision, though he declined to detail the timeline of when he made his choice. He also was noncommittal on a timeline for hiring a new coach.

There were but a few “certainties.” Smith said he and senior deputy athletic director Diana Sabau “won’t leave any stone unturned,” adding the school plans to engage a search firm to help them in their process. He also said they’re committed to finding the resources to compete at the “absolute highest level.”

As for what’s Smith’s looking for, he mentioned a leader who can build a program in an era of college football defined by the transfer portal and players getting paid.

The Terps have talent on their roster they’ll hope to retain, including linebacker Zion Elee, quarterback Malik Washington and wide receiver Chris Durr Jr. They’ll have to bring more in.

Washington, when asked if Locksley’s departure affects how he thinks about his future with Maryland, said: “No, still got these last five games we have to play. And that’s all I’m worried about.”

Linebacker Sidney Stewart was a bit more transparent.

“I think that’s a pretty obvious answer that, yes, I have to reevaluate the future,” he said. “But ultimately, I got five more games to play. … All I got to do is attack these last five games.”

In the short term, Smith was sure that interim head coach Aazaar Abdul-Rahim was the right guy to bring stability to Maryland.

Abdul-Rahim is in his second stint with the program, where he most recently served as the associate head coach for defense.

“He was clearly the right choice to become our interim head coach,” Smith said.

Wearing a white jacket with “Terps” script, Abdul-Rahim shook the hand of every media member and repeated their names. He watched carefully as Smith said even he’d have a shot at the full-time head coaching job. Then, Abdul-Rahim spoke about using the team’s final five games to set the tone for the uncertain future.

“I don’t see myself as just an interim,” Abdul-Rahim said. “I see myself as someone who’s a program builder, and that’s going to allow this program to take the next steps.”

Whether he’ll have the chance to lead the program’s next steps beyond this season remains unknown. It seems unlikely, even.

Abdul-Rahim called the last week a “whirlwind.” His promotion to interim head coach is his second in the span of a week. He was initially promoted to co-defensive coordinator after defensive coordinator Ted Monachino was fired on Oct. 18. Three days later, Locksley was out.

During that time, Abdul-Rahim said his focus was on allowing his team to reset during the bye week and return from it playing a better brand of football than they did under Locksley, whom Abdul-Rahim called “a mentor.”

To do so, Abdul-Rahim emphasized simplifying the team’s game plan. He’s shortened practices to reduce wear and tear. He’s also compressed the number of play calls defensively and offensively so players can play freer without thinking.

The players and their interim head coach insisted their focus was on Illinois, as the team seeks its first conference win of the season. But, naturally, there are a lot of questions bouncing around in their heads about what the future holds once these final five weeks of the season are over.

Abdul-Rahim says he’s asking his players just two: “Do you love football?” and “How bad do you want to win?” He hopes that will carry them to the finish.

“Because the answers, if you’re really true to it, it’s going to be in your process and your preparation,” he said. “If we can reduce the game to essentially loving football and a burning desire to win, I think we’ll have a good chance.”