Maryland Hires Ex-Texas A&M Coach Kevin Sumlin

The former Texas A&M head coach is headed to Maryland in 2023.

Kevin Sumlin is headed back to college. 

According to multiple reports, Sumlin is expected to be hired by Maryland for its offensive coordinator position. The Terrapins lost former offensive coordinator Dan Enos this offseason to Arkansas. 

Sumlin, 58, is also expected to coach tight ends and share play-calling duties with Terrapins coach Mike Locksley and another offensive coordinator. According to reports, Sumlin will serve as a co-offensive coordinator, meaning Locksley and the staff could still be looking for a secondary option. 

Hired by Texas A&M in 2012, Sumlin spent six seasons in College Station, posting a 51-26 record. Helping the Aggies transition from the Big 12 to the SEC, Sumlin provided offensive stability and consistency both in play-calling and on the recruiting trail. 

Texas A&M finished 11-2 in Year 1 of the Sumlin era, capped off with a win over Oklahoma in the Cotton Bowl. The Aggies featured one of the top young offensive minds in Kliff Kingsbury as offensive coordinator and Johnny Manziel at quarterback. 

Manziel, who helped the Aggies defeat Alabama 29-24 at Bryant-Denny Stadium for the upset of the year, won the Heisman Trophy in 2012 after finishing with 3,706 passing yards, 1,410 rushing yards, and 47 touchdowns. Kingsbury, who helped Texas A&M finish No. 4 nationally in scoring, was hired that offseason by his alma mater Texas Tech. 

Sumlin was never able to duplicate his Year 1 success in Aggieland. Texas A&M finished 9-4 in 2013 before posting three consecutive eight-win seasons from 2014-16. Sumlin was fired following the 2017 season after posting a 7-5 record. 

The Aggies only finished ranked inside the AP top 25's final rankings twice under Sumlin, coming in 2012 and 2013. Texas A&M never finished above fourth place in the SEC West division standings following the 2012 season. 

Sumlin would spend three seasons at Arziona following his tenure in College Station but never was able to get the program on track. His best year came in 2018 when he led the Wildcats to a 5-7 finish. He was fired following an 0-5 record in 2020 and posted an overall record of 9-20 during his span in Tuscon. 

Most recently, Sulmin served as both the head coach and general manager of the Houston Gamblers in the USFL. Last season, the Gamblers finished with a 3-7 record and fourth in the USFL South standings. 

Before being hired by Texas A&M, Sumlin was viewed as one of the top Group of Five coaches during his four seasons at Houston. Hired from Oklahoma in 2008, Sumlin led the Cougars to a 35-17 record, including two seasons of 10-plus wins.  


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Cole Thompson
COLE THOMPSON

Cole Thompson is a sports writer and columnist covering the NFL and college sports for SI's Fan Nation. A 2016 graduate from The University of Alabama, follow him on Twitter @MrColeThompson