Friedgen Out For Maryland Football, Leach Next In Line?

December 20, 2010 / Football
ESPN.com

Maryland will announce Monday afternoon that football coach Ralph Friedgen will not return in 2011, a source said.

Maryland announced it will hold a news conference on Monday at 3 p.m. ET to discuss developments in the football program. Maryland athletic director Kevin Anderson is expected to attend.

Friedgen has been told that the school has decided to go in a “different direction,” according to the source. As Friedgen will not agree to retire, he is being fired and he will be paid about $2 million.

Former Texas Tech coach Mike Leach is said to be a leading candidate to replace Friedgen as Maryland’s coach.

Friedgen will coach the Terrapins in the Military Bowl Presented By Northrup Grumman on Dec. 29, against East Carolina.

Leach has already had discussions with potential members of a Maryland coaching staff and has the strong support of Under Armour, the Baltimore-based athletic apparel company run by a former Maryland player, sources said.

Maryland considered hiring Leach after last season but it would have cost too much to terminate the contracts of Friedgen and former coach-in-waiting James Franklin and hire Leach, a source said.


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