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D.J. Durkin fired: 5 candidates to be the next Maryland coach

By Brad Berreman

COLLEGE PARK, MD - OCTOBER 28: Head Coach DJ Durkin of the Maryland Terrapins watches the game against the Indiana Hoosiers on October 28, 2017 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Maryland Terrapins/Getty Images)
COLLEGE PARK, MD - OCTOBER 28: Head Coach DJ Durkin of the Maryland Terrapins watches the game against the Indiana Hoosiers on October 28, 2017 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by G Fiume/Maryland Terrapins/Getty Images) /
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Mandatory Credit: Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Mandatory Credit: Jason Mowry/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images /

3. Ryan Day, Ohio State offensive coordinator

When Urban Meyer was taken away from his job at Ohio State this year, Day took over as the interim head coach and the Buckeyes went 3-0. Given Meyer’s issues, with the school’s administration or ongoing with his health, Day could be seen as something of a coach-in-waiting for the Buckeyes.

After the recent experience with Durkin, going back toward the assistant ranks within the Big Ten may be a non-starter for the administration at Maryland. But Day stands on his own as a candidate, with roots on the East Coast from stints at Temple and Boston College, youth as a selling point (39 years old) and experience coaching in the NFL and college (with and separate from being primarily a Chip Kelly disciple).

He has added some head coaching experience to his resume now, and he deserves some credit for keeping things on the rails when Meyer was completely absent from the team for two weeks and unable to coach that third game.

Day may want to stay at Ohio State and wait for a better head coaching opportunity down the road. But Maryland has a generally appealing situation to sell, and they shouldn’t write off the idea of courting Day.

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