In one of the most anti-climactic press releases in recent years, Maryland made official what’s been rumored for the past few days.
Ralph Friedgen is out as Maryland’s head coach.
Per the release, the final year of Friedgen’s contract will be bought out by the school, athletic director Kevin Anderson announced Monday afternoon. The buyout is effective January 2nd, 2011, and will cover all of the approximately $2 million in guaranteed compensation and benefits owed to Friedgen through January 2nd, 2012.
“I sincerely thank and commend Ralph for his decade of good work as Maryland’s Head Football Coach as well as his and his wife Gloria’s efforts on behalf of his alma mater over the last ten years,” said Anderson. “The decision to honor the financial terms of Ralph’s current contract, while moving immediately forward with a national search for the best coach to lead Maryland football into the future was not an easy one. I am confident it was the right business decision for our long-term strategy to move Maryland Athletics from good to great.”
Friedgen has agreed to coach the Terrapins one final time in the Dec. 29th Military Bowl against East Carolina.
A nationwide search for a replacement will commence immediately, with a search firm possibly being hired by the end of tonight, and all eyes will initially be focused on Mike Leach.
During the press conference announcing the move to dismiss Friedgen, Anderson said that he has “a list, and Mike Leach is on that list, but I’m not going to go any further than that.” Anderson also admitted that the dynamic of the coaching situation at the school changed when James Franklin accepted the head coaching job at Vanderbilt.
