Football coach DJ Durkin will be at practice this week and on the sideline for Maryland’s game Saturday against Michigan State, according to 247Sports.
Durkin’s return would mark the end of a 10-week saga that saw an investigation into Maryland’s football program and whether Durkin cultivated a “toxic” locker room.
A lengthy report released last week concluded that there was no “toxic culture” in the Terps football program but did uncover incidents of abuse.
The report was produced by an eight-person commission, which gave its findings to University of Maryland system’s 17-member board of regents Friday.
The commission found there were “many occasions” of abuse, including incidents involving former strength and conditioning coach Rick Court who resigned in August. The report stated that Court used homophobic slurs, which he denied but was confirmed to the commission by others.
Even though Durkin wasn’t found directly responsible for the incidents of abuse, he was deemed responsible for not correcting Court’s “unacceptable behavior.”
According to ESPN, several players walked out of a meeting with Durkin on Tuesday, although the nature of the meeting is unknown.
Durkin has been on paid leave since Aug. 11. The unflattering reports about the program began to surface after player Jordan McNair died in June from complications of heat stroke he suffered during a May conditioning workout.
Maryland president Wallace Loh and athletic director Damon Evans also are expected to return to their positions.
According to The Washington Post, Loh didn’t want Durkin to return as coach but, pressured by the board of regents, “felt he had no choice.”
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Investigation finds no ‘toxic culture’ within Maryland football program
To be clear, UMd President Wallace Loh did not want Durkin back, we’re told. He apparently felt he had no choice https://t.co/1ofD2zh0wK pic.twitter.com/6kkRzmj3Pq
The Terps, 5-3 under interim coach Matt Canada, will look to clinch bowl eligibility with a win over the Spartans (5-3) on the road.
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