Maryland, Mark Turgeon part ways, Terps name interim head coach

Maryland came into the season with a preseason top 25 ranking. The Terps were ranked No. 21 in the preseason AP basketball poll. But after a slow start to the season, Maryland and head coach Mark Turgeon are parting ways, according to CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein. Additionally, Rothstein reports that Danny Manning will take over as Maryland’s interim head coach.

Turgeon began his coaching career as an assistant under his former head coach Larry Brown at Kansas in 1988. That team won the NCAA Tournament in 1988, and Danny Manning won National Player of the Year. Now, Turgeon is out at Maryland and Manning is taking over, at least for now.

Turgeon also served as an assistant at Oregon before beginning his head coaching career at Jacksonville State in 1998. He then coached at Wichita State and Texas A&M before coming to Maryland in 2011, and he has been with the Terps ever since.

In eight seasons with Maryland, including the beginning of this season, Turgeon has coached to a 226-116 record. Excluding the 2019-2020 season where the NCAA Tournament was canceled, Maryland has made the NCAA Tournament in all but one season.

This season, Maryland began the year with three consecutive victories. But an upset loss against George Mason began a slump. Maryland bounced back from that loss with a last-second win over Hofstra and a six-point victory over Richmond. The Terps have dropped two consecutive games against Louisville and Virginia Tech, falling to 5-3 on the year.

Turgeon, Maryland AD Damon Evans on the decision

Maryland athletic director Damon Evans commented on the decision in a release on Friday afternoon. Evans said that the move is the best one for both the program and Turgeon moving forward.

“After a series of conversations with Coach Turgeon, we agreed that a coaching change was the best move for Coach Turgeon and for the Maryland Men’s Basketball program,” Maryland athletic director Damon Evans said. “He has dedicated over a decade of his life to the University of Maryland, and has coached with distinction and honor. He leaves College Park as the 2020 Big Ten Conference champion and with more than 225 victories. He’s a great coach and a great person, and I wish Mark, his wife Ann and his entire family all the best in the next chapter of their lives.”

Turgeon echoed Evans’ statement, saying that him leaving Maryland will help the program grow and move forward in the future.

“After several in depth conversations with Damon, I have decided that the best thing for Maryland Basketball, myself and my family is to step down, effective immediately, as the head coach of Maryland Basketball,” said Turgeon. “I have always preached that Maryland Basketball is bigger than any one individual. My departure will enable a new voice to guide the team moving forward.
 
“Maryland Basketball has been my passion and focus for the last 10 seasons, and I am extremely proud of what we have accomplished. It is through the combined effort and commitment from our coaches and players, both past and present, that we have sustained consistent success in a sport that is ultra-competitive. I am extremely grateful to have worked with each and every one of you.
 
“It has truly been an honor to be the men’s basketball coach at the University of Maryland.”

Maryland’s next game is at home on Sunday against Northwestern.