Following months of investigations and a review into the death of Maryland Terrapins offensive lineman Jordan McNair, and the reported toxic coaching culture by the Terrapins’ coaching staff, head coach DJ Durkin and athletic director Damon Evans will reportedly return to their roles at the university.
DJ Durkin and Damon Evans both retaining Maryland jobs. School President Wallace Loh planning to retire in June. Much more coming shortly…
— Rick Maese (@RickMaese) October 30, 2018
According to Rick Maese of The Washington Post, the University System of Maryland Board of Regents reportedly recommended Durkin be allowed to return to the sidelines after he was originally placed on administrative leave on Aug. 11.
This news comes after a two-month investigation into alleged abuse by Maryland’s coaching staff under Durkin led to a report released on Oct.23.
According to the report, “Maryland football team did not have a ‘toxic culture,’ but it did have a culture where problems festered because too many players feared speaking out.”
The report also detailed how Maryland’s athletic department “lacked a culture of accountability, did not provide adequate oversight of the football program, and failed to provide Mr. Durkin with the tools, resources, and guidance necessary to support and educate a first-time head coach in a major football conference.”
The independent report indicated the coaching staff exposed players to graphic videos while eating. Durkin’s assistant Rick Court also challenged a player’s manhood, used homophobic slurs and “would attempt to humiliate players in front of their teammates by throwing food, weights, and on one occasion a trash can full of vomit.”
Yet, the report somehow deemed there was not a toxic culture among the football team or coaching staff. Now just days after the report was released, Durkin and the head of the athletic department will reportedly return to their jobs.
The only player leaving the program is Maryland’s president Wallace Loh, who resigned after the school board reportedly made it clear he had no choice but to keep Durkin if he wanted to remain the school’s president.
Following the report of Durkin’s return, Twitter lit up with outrage at Maryland’s inexcusable decision
At Maryland, apparently, the buck stops at the strength coach. https://t.co/bMlMLlSsZV
— Adam Kilgore (@AdamKilgoreWP) October 30, 2018
https://twitter.com/amford789/status/1057340462036672512
Good to know I can add Maryland football to the list of programs I want to see crash and burn for all eternity
— Pokecheque (@Pokecheque) October 30, 2018
SPOILER: None of them make you want to ever root for Maryland football again https://t.co/uAQ04eE0b4
— Ryan Fagan (@ryanfagan) October 30, 2018
Maryland’s justification for keeping Durkin can’t even be explained for his success on the field, as some directly highlighted in their reactions.
You would think DJ Durkin is Vince Lombardi the lengths Maryland has gone to in justifying bringing him back.
— Stewart Mandel (@slmandel) October 30, 2018
maryland reportedly ran out the president to save a coach who won 10 games in two years.
up next, presumably, come lots of transfers.
— bomani (@bomani_jones) October 30, 2018
When parents sit down with their kids to discuss their college options, it’s clear plenty of families and even fans will remember exactly what is allowed under Durkin’s regime at Maryland.
https://twitter.com/TyMitch9/status/1057343685891887105
How? A kid DIED under your watch as HEAD COACH. How can I trust you to take care of my kid that you’re recruiting? I can’t. He should be fired.
— Joey 4x #AreYouSeriousBro Winner (@JNFernandez1980) October 30, 2018
https://twitter.com/AceAnbender/status/1057342119524945926
If I’m a member of the Maryland Terrapins and I lived through Durkin’s shenanigans and I see he’s returning, I’m filing transfer papers TODAY.
— Eric Robinson (@_Eric_Robinson) October 30, 2018