New Maryland offensive coordinator Mike Locksley will receive $500,000 in guaranteed compensation annually and be eligible for bonuses based on the Terrapins’ recruiting rankings.
A copy of Locksley’s contract — a four-year deal — was obtained through an open-records request. The former New Mexico head coach was hired as Gary Crowton’s replacement last month.
Locksley is coming off a disastrous stint in Albuquerque, where he went 2-26 in two-plus seasons and was fired a month into last season. He also made off-field headlines and was suspended for a game in his first season after an altercation with one of his assistant coaches.
He developed a reputation as a well-regarded recruiter as an assistant coach at Maryland, Florida and Illinois before becoming a head coach. Maryland hopes he will tap into that skill to help the Terps recover from a 2-10 campaign in coach Randy Edsall’s first season, and a notable feature in Locksley’s deal are bonuses for Maryland’s performance in recruiting.
Locksley will receive $25,000 if Maryland is in the top 40 of the Rivals.com or Scout.com rankings on signing day. He also will receive $20,000 if the Terps rank among the top four teams in the ACC on signing day.
Maryland’s current class is ranked 45th nationally and sixth in the ACC according to Rivals.com. The Terps are No. 44 nationally and sixth in the ACC according to Scout.com. Rivals and Scout are two of the most established recruiting services.
The addition of Locksley already helped Maryland land Good Counsel’s Wes Brown, who Rivals ranks as the No. 17 running back in this year’s class. Brown committed to Maryland last week.
Locksley also will receive bonuses specific to his offense’s performance. He will collect $15,000 each time Maryland finishes in the top four in the ACC in total offense and scoring offense, and an additional $10,000 if the Terps lead the conference in either category.
He also will receive $15,000 in relocation assistance from New Mexico.
Locksley will receive essentially identical guaranteed pay as Crowton, who was ousted after one season during which the Terps never established an offensive identity. Locksley’s base salary is $350,000, and he’ll earn $37,500 for each of the following four areas: radio and television appearances; personal appearances for the university; fund raising activities; and service, apparel and equipment endorsements.
Locksley’s deal also includes a car allowance ($6,000 annually) and a phone stipend ($1,440 annually).
• Patrick Stevens can be reached at pstevens@washingtontimes.com.
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