Terps fire defensive coordinator Ted Monachino after loss to Rutgers

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The first major change to the Maryland football coaching staff came one day after the Terrapins conceded 24 points in the second half of a loss to Rutgers on Saturday.

Maryland fired defensive coordinator and outside linebackers coach Ted Monachino, the program announced. Aazaar Abdul-Rahim and Zac Spavital will lead the defensive unit the rest of the season. The announcement came from under-fire head coach Mike Locksley.

“I appreciate Ted’s hard work and dedication to our program during his time in College Park,” Locksley said in a statement. “As I evaluate our program, I believe this change is necessary. We wish Ted all the best moving forward.”

Maryland is 2-5, and Locksley’s position is under scrutiny. The Terps have a bye week upcoming before facing Purdue, Wisconsin, USC and Penn State to end the season.

Monachino, 60, is a longtime coach in college and professional ranks, including 16 years in the NFL. He served as the linebackers coach for the Ravens from 2010 to 2015, a span in which Baltimore won the Super Bowl.

The Terps hired Monachino in 2025 to lead the defense, but the results were poor. This season, Maryland has allowed 366.6 yards per game, which ranks 83rd in the country. Their 33.29 points allowed per game rank 127th.

The Terps have the worst defense in the Big Ten. No conference team has allowed more points per game. And, in all four Big Ten games, Maryland has allowed a 100-yard rusher.

It has been worse during conference play, in which Maryland’s Big Ten opponents have scored an average of 46 points in four games.

Maryland held a 10-point halftime lead against Rutgers on Saturday, but a poor second-half display handed the Terps another defeat. The Scarlet Knights scored 24 unanswered points before a late touchdown made the 37-30 final score.

Monachino’s two-year contract was due to expire at the end of December 2026. His salary this season was $1.25 million, according to a copy of his contract obtained through a public records request, and he’s due 75% of the remainder of that salary due to his early termination. Monachino will be due just shy of $200,000 from Maryland.