Feb. 16, 2011

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COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Maryland head football coach Randy Edsall completed his staff Wednesday with the announcement that Todd Bradford has been promoted to defensive coordinator and Keith Dudzinski hired to coach the inside linebackers.

Bradford was hired last month as inside linebackers coach and now assumes a role he's been successful in at past stops.

Bradford, who has coached in Conference USA, the Big 12 and Big Ten, has served as a coordinator on both sides of the ball, including the last three seasons as the defensive coordinator and secondary coach at Southern Mississippi.

"I'm pleased to name Todd Bradford as our defensive coordinator and secondary coach," head coach Randy Edsall said. "He will lead an aggressive, attacking and fundamentally sound defense that will work to cause turnovers and create disruption for opposing offenses. He brings great experience and knowledge to the position and has been successful throughout his career."

Under Bradford's guidance, the Golden Eagles' rushing defense ranked No. 13 (113.0 yards per game) in the FBS in 2010. They were also No. 14 in third-down conversions (34 percent), No. 30 in turnovers gained (26), tied for 26th in tackles for loss (6.7 per game) and tied for 27th in interceptions (16).

In his second season as the Southern Miss defensive coordinator, Bradford led an opportunistic unit that ended the season tied for 18th in the FBS in sacks (2.7 per game), tied for 25th in turnovers gained (27) and No. 26 in tackles for loss (6.8 pg).

Bradford was also a defensive coordinator at Lehigh (1994) and Louisiana Tech (1997-00) where he served under current Maryland offensive coordinator Gary Crowton his final two seasons. Crowton was the Bulldogs head coach at the time. Bradford was also the co-offensive coordinator at BYU (2003-04) under Crowton who was then head coach at his alma mater.

Dudzinski served as the defensive coordinator at UMass-Amherst the last seven years, including five under former Maryland assistant Don Brown, who was the Minutemen's head coach from 2004-08. Brown left Maryland earlier this month to assume the defensive coordinator role with UConn.

During Dudzinski's time as defensive coordinator at UMass, the Minutemen maintained one of the top units in the nation. They finished among the top 20 in total defense three times (third in 2005; 20th in 2006; 13th in 2007). UMass was also first nationally in scoring defense in 2005 and fifth in 2006.

In addition, UMass linebacker Tyler Holmes was finalist for the 2010 Buck Buchanan Award, honoring the top defensive player in the FCS.

"Keith is a great fit to our staff," Edsall said. "I've had personal experience with him, and he's had a lot of productivity at every stop, including as a highly-successful recruiter."

Dudzinski's resume is well-rounded on the defensive side of the ball.

Prior to his second stint at UMass, he was the linebackers coach at Northeastern for a season (2002) before being promoted to the Huskies' defensive coordinator his final year (2003).

Dudzinski's first tour at UMass saw him coach the defensive line (1998), linebackers and special teams (1999-00), as well as defensive backs and special teams (2001).

He coached outside linebackers at his alma mater, New Haven, from 1991-93 and the defensive line at Brown (1994-97).

Edsall is excited about a staff which includes two former head coaches (Crowton and Greg Gattuso) and a defense with two former coordinators (Bradford and Dudzinski)

"We've assembled a strong, solid staff in terms of on-the-field coaching and recruiting," Edsall said. "Now we're looking forward to getting into the nuts and bolts of coaching in order to get ready for spring practice, as well as continuing to recruit the best student-athletes."

2011 Maryland Football Coaching Staff: