BALTIMORE — Men’s basketball coach Mark Turgeon and the University of Maryland announced Friday that they’ve mutually agreed to part ways, abruptly ending his tenure less than than a month into his 11th season.
Turgeon, who’d led the Terps to appearances in five of the past six NCAA Tournaments but had struggled to establish the program among the nation’s elite, was 226-116 overall since taking over over for legendary coach Gary Williams in 2011. He was named the Big Ten Conference’s Coach of the Year in 2015 and a year later led Maryland to its first and only Sweet 16 of his tenure.
Assistant coach Danny Manning will serve as the interim coach for the remainder of the season, the school announced, and a national search will begin after the season.
The Terps began the year ranked No. 21 in the country but have struggled in nonconference play. They fell to 5-3 overall after a 62-58 loss Wednesday to visiting Virginia Tech in which some fans inside Xfinity Center booed him and called for his job.
“After a series of conversations with Coach Turgeon, we agreed that a coaching change was the best move for Coach Turgeon and for the Maryland Men’s Basketball program,” Maryland athletic director Damon Evans said in a news release. “He has dedicated over a decade of his life to the University of Maryland, and has coached with distinction and honor. He leaves College Park as the 2020 Big Ten Conference champion and with more than 225 victories. He’s a great coach and a great person, and I wish Mark, his wife Ann and his entire family all the best in the next chapter of their lives.”
Turgeon’s departure comes eight months after he signed a three-year, $17 million contract extension through the 2025-26 season. He will be owed $5 million, according to a team spokesman, the amount he was due if his contract were terminated before May 1, 2022.
“After several in depth conversations with Damon, I have decided that the best thing for Maryland Basketball, myself and my family is to step down, effective immediately, as the head coach of Maryland Basketball,” Turgeon said in the news release. “I have always preached that Maryland Basketball is bigger than any one individual. My departure will enable a new voice to guide the team moving forward.
“Maryland Basketball has been my passion and focus for the last 10 seasons, and I am extremely proud of what we have accomplished. It is through the combined effort and commitment from our coaches and players, both past and present, that we have sustained consistent success in a sport that is ultra-competitive. I am extremely grateful to have worked with each and every one of you.”
Turgeon’s departure leaves Evans with maybe the most important search of his three-year tenure as athletic director. He hired football coach Mike Locksley in December 2018 after DJ Durkin was fired in the wake of offensive lineman Jordan McNair’s death earlier that summer. Locksley is 12-23 overall in three years at Maryland but has guided the Terps to a likely bowl appearance this season.
Now Evans will help pick the ninth men’s basketball coach in program history, and just the fifth since 1969, when Lefty Driesell’s hire helped boost the program to prominence.
He came to College Park in 2011 after going 97-40 in four seasons at Texas A&M, where he led the Aggies to the NCAA Tournament each year. Turgeon also spent seven seasons as head coach at Wichita State, going 128-90, and two years at Jacksonville State. He is 476-275 overall as a head coach.
Maryland is scheduled to host Northwestern on Sunday in its Big Ten Conference opener.
