Former Virginia coach Mike London joining D.J. Durkin's staff at Maryland
Former Virginia coach Mike London will be the associate head coach and defensive line coach for new Maryland coach D.J. Durkin, according to sources.
The move comes just over a week after London resigned as the Cavaliers’ coach following six seasons, including a 4–8 record this season. The addition of London is another huge pickup for the Terrapins’ recruiting efforts in Washington D.C., Maryland and Virginia, especially in the latter's fertile Tidewater area.
The 55-year-old London's hiring comes the same day that former Syracuse coach Scott Shafer also joined Durkin's staff as defensive coordinator.
In London’s six seasons in Charlottesville, he had a 27–46 record, including an 14–34 mark in the ACC. Before Virginia, he was coach at his alma mater, Richmond, for two years.
London won the FCS national title during his debut season with the Spiders in 2008. He was Virginia’s defensive coordinator and defensive line coach from ’06-07 and defensive line coach for the NFL’s Houston Texans in ’05.
London also coached the defensive line at Virginia from 2001-04 and was the Cavaliers’ recruiting coordinator for the final three of those seasons. He was defensive line coach at Boston College from 1997 through ’00 and outside linebackers coach at Richmond from ’95-96.
Before that, he coached the defensive line at William & Mary for four seasons and was Richmond’s outside linebackers coach from 1989 through ’90. He was a defensive back for the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys in ’83 after playing for Richmond from ’79 through ’82.
Durkin became Maryland’s coach last week after serving as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Michigan this season. The 37-year-old is regarded as one of college football’s brightest young defensive minds.
He also previously served as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Florida from 2013-14, a stint that included him leading the Gators to a 28–20 win over East Carolina as interim coach in the Birmingham Bowl in ’14.
Durkin replaces Randy Edsall, who was fired in October amidst a 2–4 start. Edsall had a 22–33 record, including a 10–23 mark in conference play, in his five seasons with the Terrapins.
Maryland finished with a 3–9 record this season, including a 1–7 mark in the Big Ten.
