COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) — Ralph Friedgen has been fired as Maryland’s football coach, effective after the Military Bowl on Dec. 29.
The announcement came Monday afternoon by athletic director Kevin Anderson, who said Friedgen would receive $2 million to cover the final year of his contract.
Anderson said he made plans to replace Friedgen after Terps offensive coordinator James Franklin accepted the head coaching job at Vanderbilt on Friday. Anderson said it became clear at that point that the football program was in need of “long-term direction and success.”
Anderson called the move to replace Friedgen “a strategic business decision.”
Friedgen has a 74-50 record in 10 years at his alma mater. After the Terrapins slipped to 2-10 last year, Friedgen guided the team to an 8-4 record and a berth in the Military Bowl, the seventh postseason appearance by Maryland under his direction.
