Defensive coordinator Brown will be retained
Randy Edsall, the new sheriff at the University of Maryland, will retain one of his predecessor’s deputies. Don Brown, defensive coordinator the last two years under Ralph Friedgen, will remain with the Terps.
In addition, wide receivers coach Lee Hull also will be retained, the school announced Tuesday night.
Edsall has yet to identify an offensive coordinator. According to a source, Edsall wants to bring Joe Moorhead from UConn. Moorhead served in the role the last two years under Edsall.
Edsall’s defensive coordinator of nine seasons, Hank Hughes, was named interim coach at UConn on Monday, making it likely that he will remain on staff when Edsall’s successor is hired.
Retaining Brown, 55, will give the Maryland defense a measure of continuity — important considering the complexity of the attacking scheme, which relies heavily on deception and situational substitutions. After struggling in Brown’s first season, the Terrapins’ defense took huge strides in 2010, ranking in the top third in the nation in yards per game (352.3) and points allowed (22.1). Maryland also ranked second in the ACC in pass efficiency defense (107.6), interceptions (19), turnover margin (plus 15), and red zone conversion defense (75 percent).
One item high on the priority list for Edsall and Brown will be to convince playmaking safety Kenny Tate to stay for his senior year. The 6-4, 220-pound all-ACC first-team choice was second on the team in tackles (100), tackles for a loss (8.5), sacks (3.5), and interceptions (3), and led the Terps in forced fumbles (4).
“Kenny is one of those young men I want to speak to very, very soon,” Edsall said Tuesday afternoon.
Another priority for Edsall is to hit the recruiting trail. Tuesday ended the two-week holiday quiescent period, where coaches are not allowed to contact recruits. Under Friedgen and former recruiting coordinator James Franklin — now the head coach at Vanderbilt — the Terps received verbal commitments from 22 players.
It will be interesting to see how many of those players Edsall can retain. He has four weeks to make his case. Signing day is Feb. 2.
