COLLEGE PARK, MD — Amid reports of planned student protests following the decision Tuesday by the University of Maryland to keep embattled football coach D.J. Durkin, university officials reversed themselves and fired the coach, media outlets reported Wednesday evening. The university had previously opted to keep the Terrapins football coach, along with Athletic Director Damon Evans after the death of student Jordan McNair this past summer, and University President Wallace Loh was allowed to wait until next June to resign, according to reports.
Durkin and the UMD administration came under fire after the death of Terrapins offensive lineman Jordan McNair on June 13. McNair, 19, collapsed during a preseason conditioning drill two weeks prior, and an independent investigation determined that trainers on the scene didn’t follow proper procedures. That news sparked student backlash, and Loh said that while he respects Durkin personally, many stakeholders wanted a change, leading to the coach’s termination.
In a statement Loh said, “A departure is in the best interest of the university, and this afternoon Coach Durkin was informed that the university will part ways. This is a difficult decision, but it is the right one for our entire University. I will devote the remaining months of my presidency to advancing the needed reforms in our Athletic Department that prioritize the safety and well-being of our student-athletes.”
Gov. Larry Hogan on Wednesday had called McNair’s death a tragedy that must not be forgotten. Before word of Durkin’s firing was made public, Hogan said the athletic department faces serious issues.
“University leadership still faces the considerable challenge of restoring the trust of students, families, and faculty, and proving that there is and will be accountability for any actions that adversely impact student welfare and the standing of our flagship university,” Hogan said. “The addition of an oversight board seems to be a positive step, but many will understandably question whether enough has been done to address the serious concerns that exist among many in the College Park community – I am one of them.”
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Washington Post sports reporter Emily Giambalvo tweeted Tuesday night that the executive board of the UMD Student Government Association was organizing a rally to take place Thursday at 3:30 p.m.
The Facebook event lists the location as McKeldin Library, and around 300 indicated they were going as of around noon on Tuesday. It’s not clear if that rally is still planned.
“We, the Executive Board of the University of Maryland Student Government Association, are outraged with the decisions made by the Board of Regents regarding the Maryland Football Program,” the event page states. “In order to voice the opinions of the student body, we are organizing a rally, this Thursday, November 1st, 2018 at 3:30pm. We will be gathering in front of McKeldin Library marching down to the steps of the Main Administration building.
“We demand justice for Jordan McNair,” it adds.
Loh apologized in August for what happened to McNair and said that steps would be taken to ensure that “no University of Maryland student-athlete is ever again put in a situation where his or her safety and life are at foreseeable risk.”
A preliminary review found that trainers misdiagnosed Jordan’s initial symptoms and did not even take his vital signs, according to Loh.
“The University accepts legal and moral responsibility for these mistakes,” Loh said in a statement.
Following the ESPN report, Terps head football coach DJ Durkin was put on administrative leave. Strength and conditioning coach Rick Court “parted ways” with the university, according to CBS.
Additional reporting by Elizabeth Janney and Dan Taylor, Patch editors.
PHOTO: Maryland Terrapins head football coach D. J. Durkin watches the action during the game against the Boston College Eagles at Ford Field on December 26, 2016 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
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