By Steven Dilsizian
This offseason has been filled with many changes to the front office for the Maryland Football Program after finishing with a disappointing 3-9 record in their second season in the Big Ten Conference. These changes in the front office are made with intentions that there will be changes in the performance on the field as well.

Head Coach: DJ Durkin – Former Michigan DC:

Athletic Director Kevin Anderson has taken the time to hire who he feels will best represent the program while also providing a new and positive outlook going forward. DJ Durkin is an energetic guy who provides a bright future for the Terrapins moving forward. Initially after the firing of former head coach Randy Edsall, it was rumored that the Terps were in search for an offensive-minded coach, and instead hired the opposite. Durkin has molded Michigan one of the best defenses in the Big Ten and has the capabilities to do the same with a Maryland team that is desperate for consistent play on that side of the ball. Durkin is not just a defensive specialist but he also is a phenomenal recruiter, something that Maryland needs in order to try and keep local talent from leaving the state. In 2012, Rivals declared Durkin the Recruiter of Year when he hauled in a very talented recruiting class as an assistant coach for the Florida Gators. Only time will tell but as of now, it feels like Maryland Football has a newfound energy with Durkin at the helm.

Associate Head Coach/Defensive Line Coach: Mike London – Former Virginia Head Coach:

A former Head Coach and Defensive Coordinator is just the kind of assistance and experience Durkin was looking to add to his staff. London is not only a great defensive mind, he also maintains a strong reputation for his recruiting skills, which is a very attractive trait to Durkin. London strengthens the recruiting region in the state of Virginia where Maryland has struggled somewhat in losing recruits to in-state schools such as UVA and Virginia Tech. Look for that to change with the addition of London to the staff.

Defensive Coordinator: Scott Shafer – Former Syracuse Head Coach:

Shafer has an extensive amount of coaching experience and is very familiar with coach Durkin. Both Shafer and Durkin coached together at Stanford in 2007 under Harbaugh until eventually the two split paths. After seven seasons at Syracuse, four as Defensive Coordinator and three as head coach, Durkin was able to pull in an old friend to help him build the Maryland defense. Shafer ran a 4-3 scheme at Syracuse so it doesn’t look like Maryland will revert back to the old 3-4 defensive system that ran in previous years. Shafer’s best defense was in 2014 where Syracuse ranked No. 33 by S&P+ Rankings and looks to bring that success to the Terps.

Defensive Backs Coach: Aazaar Abdul-Rahim – Former Alabama Assistant Director of Player Personnel:

Abdul-Rahim is a Maryland local who coached the Friendship Collegiate Academy in Washington where he produced a handful of top recruits in the nation. Many of the players that Abdul-Rahim used to coach would attend Maryland, thus many of these players advocated for the program to try and convince him to come back home. Durkin was able to haul in a guy who can help improve a defensive backs group that has allowed an average of 258 yards per game through the air. However Abdul-Rahim seems to be most valuable to the program in the field of recruiting. Local 4-star athlete Trevon Diggs recently committed to Alabama due largely in part to his relationship with Adbul-Rahim. He has many connections in the local area and can help Durkin keep many of these top-tier local talents at home.

Strength and Conditioning Coach: Rick Court – Former Mississippi St. Strength Coach:

Court and Durkin have a history together in the past where they were both on the Bowling Green staff led by Urban Meyer in 2005 and 2006. Court worked with Mississippi St. for two seasons and helped prepare his players to compete at the best level possible as the Bulldogs reached a No.1 national ranking in 2014 and a trip to the Orange Bowl. Court now looks to work with a Maryland team that has always seemed to be prone to the injury bug (knock on wood).

It has been rumored that the new offensive coordinator will not be declared until sometime in January. Durkin knows how vital this hiring is in maintaining many of the current commits and is taking his time to hire the best guy for the job.