Dear Terp Nation,

In my first five months as your Athletic Director, I've come to understand — and deeply appreciate — what Maryland Pride truly means. I have quickly grown to love this university, our athletics department, our supporters, our fans, our staff, and most importantly, our student-athletes. They are the lifeblood of everything we do.

I stepped into this role at a time when the landscape of college athletics — and college football in particular — is undergoing unprecedented change. Over just the last two years, the expectations, requirements, and competitive realities of the Big Ten have shifted dramatically. To compete at the highest level, we must support and resource Maryland Football in the same way our Big Ten peers do. A level playing field requires a level commitment.

Coach Locksley bleeds Maryland, has deep and unmatched ties to the DMV, and he has led this program to success unprecedented in our 133-year football history — including three consecutive bowl victories — with three straight winning seasons from 2021-23. Those accomplishments demonstrate what this program is capable of when aligned and supported.

But in the two short years since that run, the entire environment of college athletics has transformed. To continue building on this foundation, Coach Locksley needs — and deserves — the full support of our department, our university, and all of Terp Nation. We are fully committed to giving him and our student-athletes the resources and investments necessary to succeed. I have worked closely with Coach Locksley to rapidly strengthen our NIL support for 2026 and beyond, with a clear and focused effort on roster retention, recruiting, and being highly competitive in the transfer portal.

Our coaches, staff, and student-athletes continue to pour themselves into this program and uphold the standards we expect at Maryland, but we are all disappointed that the recent results have fallen short of our expectations. Coach Locksley believes deeply in the potential of this team — and I share both his belief in the team and his frustration with our record. Through every challenge, our players have competed with heart, resilience, and pride, and they have earned the respect of all of Terp Nation.

Our goals remain clear: build a program that competes for Big Ten Championships and earn a place in the College Football Playoff. Achieving those goals requires consistency, commitment, and alignment at every level. With the support of President Pines, Maryland Athletics is committed to making the necessary investment in our football program to position us to achieve these goals.

At the conclusion of the season, Coach Locksley, Senior Deputy Athletic Director Diana Sabau, and I will review every aspect of our football program to make sure we are focused on getting the right type of resources in the right places to build a successful football program in this new era of college football.

I am confident that we have the right foundation in place, the enhanced resources that position us to compete at a higher level in 2026, and a coach who can truly own the DMV. Every decision we've made reflects our belief in this program's potential and its leadership. We are fully committed to getting this right — and making you proud of our football program.

Thank you for your loyalty, your passion, and your unrelenting Maryland Pride.

Go Terps! Jim Smith
Barry P. Gossett Director of Athletics
University of Maryland