Maryland adds Josh Gattis, Zac Spavital to coaching staff

Michael Reaves/Getty Images
5 Comments

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Maryland has hired Josh Gattis as an offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

Gattis joins the Terrapins after one season as Miami’s offensive coordinator. He was fired after the team went 5-7. Prior to that, Gattis was an offensive coordinator at Michigan. He won the Broyles Award as the nation’s top assistant in 2021.

Maryland announced the hire Thursday and also announced the addition of Zac Spavital as safeties coach.

Gattis worked with Maryland coach Michael Locksley when they were on the staff at Alabama in 2018. Gattis joins Kevin Sumlin, who was hired as a co-offensive coordinator at Maryland earlier this offseason.

Dan Enos, Maryland’s previous offensive coordinator, was hired for the same job at Arkansas.

Spavital spent the past four seasons as defensive coordinator at Texas State and has also coached at Texas Tech, Houston and Oklahoma.

“The additions of Josh and Zac really bolsters our already strong coaching staff,” Locksley said. “Josh and I have a strong relationship and a proven track record of working together to produce a potent offense. He and I share many of the same philosophies and it should be a very smooth transition.

“Zac comes to us with a history of being part of defenses that have a tremendous amount of success, especially when it comes to being aggressive and taking the ball away.”

Maryland hires Kevin Sumlin as co-offensive coordinator

Getty Images
0 Comments

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Maryland has hired former Arizona and Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin as a co-offensive coordinator.

Sumlin, who was also a head coach at Houston, will be an associate head coach for the Terrapins. He’ll coach tight ends in addition to helping run the offense.

Sumlin went 35-17 at Houston from 2008-11 and 51-26 at Texas A&M from 2012-17. He was just 9-20 at Arizona before being fired in 2020.

Sumlin comes to Maryland after spending a year as coach and general manager of the USFL’s Houston Gamblers.

“Kevin brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our staff and I couldn’t be more thrilled that he’s joining our program,” Maryland coach Mike Locksley said. “My relationship with Kevin goes back over 25 years. He has a tremendous football mind, along with a proven track record of developing players and winning at the highest levels.”

Dan Enos, Maryland’s previous offensive coordinator, was hired for the same job at Arkansas this offseason.

Maryland’s Taulia Tagovailoa says he’ll be back next season

Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
0 Comments

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Taulia Tagovailoa announced Wednesday he is returning to Maryland to play next season.

Tagovailoa, who holds a slew of school passing records, will try to help the Terrapins continue their recent rise under coach Michael Locksley. Maryland has won bowl games each of the past two seasons after finishing below .500 in the previous six.

“My goal when coming to Maryland was to help Coach Locksley turn this program around,” Tagovailoa said. “After winning back-to-back bowl games, I believe we have things going in the right direction. But we’re not done yet. I’m not done yet.”

The Terps went 8-5 this past season and were competitive against both Michigan and Ohio State. Tagovailoa, the brother of Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, has stabilized the QB position at Maryland. He holds the program’s career records for yards passing, completions, completion percentage, touchdowns passing and total offense.

He also holds single-season records for yards passing, completions, completion percentage and touchdowns passing.

Maryland also returns standout running back Roman Hemby and tight end Corey Dyches, although wide receiver Rakim Jarrett decided to enter the NFL draft.