Maryland dumps DJ Durkin day after reinstatement
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OXFORD, Miss. - South Carolina coach Will Muschamp spent a chunk of his time on Wednesday's SEC coaches teleconference expressing sympathy for the way his former assistant, and now-Ole Miss defensive coordinator, DJ Durkin's tenure ended at Maryland.
Durkin was fired as the head coach at Maryland in 2018 after tragedy struck the program. One of Durkin's former players, Jordan McNair, died in a hospital because of complications from heatstroke and a seizure that McNair suffered on Durkin's practice field. Durkin was placed on administrative leave and put under investigation by the Maryland Board of Regents.
© Rick Osentoski, Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY SportsDec 26, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Maryland Terrapins head coach D. J. Durkin reacts to a call in the second half against the Boston College Eagles at Ford Field. Boston College won 36-30. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
The investigation into Durkin's program showed several instances of documented abuse from Durkin's staff.
Durkin was briefly reinstated as Maryland's head coach but was fired one day later because of public outcry and almost universal backlash.
When asked about Durkin on Wednesday, Muschamp brought up the McNair tragedy unprompted.
"He's a great husband and a great father, a guy that I've got a tremendous amount of respect for," Muschamp said. "He's been through a very difficult time there obviously at Maryland. I hate what he went through. But he's an outstanding person that I've got tremendous respect for."
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© Mitch Stringer, USA TODAY SportsDJ Durkin compiled a 10-15 record in two seasons as head coach at Maryland.
Muschamp and Durkin worked together for four seasons while Muschamp was the head coach at Florida. Durkin coached linebackers and special teams at the beginning of Muschamp's tenure and worked his way to being Muschamp's defensive coordinator in their final two seasons together.
"When I got the job at Florida, they were getting ready for the Outback Bowl," Muschamp said. "[Former Florida coach Urban] Meyer allowed me to come to practice and watch practice. I watched D.J. up close and personal. He coached the linebackers and was also the special teams coordinator. I watched him on the field and was very impressed with him. Then you meet him and you realize what a genuinely good person he is."
When Muschamp stepped down at the end of the 2014 season, Durkin took over as Florida's interim head coach for their bowl game.
The two defensive coaches took divergent paths after that. Muschamp went to Auburn for a year before resurfacing as South Carolina's head coach in 2016. Durkin left Florida for Michigan, and then in 2016, he took the head coaching job at Maryland.
Durkin did not coach in 2019. He resurfaced in January when he was hired by Lane Kiffin to be the Rebels' co-defensive coordinator, along with former Michigan coworker Chris Partridge.
"There's no question they've improved tremendously from Game 1 to where they are now," Muschamp said of Durkin's defense. "Nothing surprises me as far as that's concerned with D.J. He's a diligent guy who's extremely bright and is going to work extremely hard and continue to build the belief of his players."
Muschamp's Gamecocks and Durkin's defense will face off Saturday in Oxford at 6:30 p.m. on SEC Network.
Follow the Clarion Ledger's Nick Suss on Twitter @nicksuss.
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Will Muschamp defends former Maryland coach DJ Durkin: 'I hate what he went through'