Maryland governor urges university to ‘reconsider’ decision to retain football coach after player’s death

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) on Wednesday urged the University System of Maryland Board of Regents to “reconsider” its decisions to retain the University of Maryland’s head football coach after one of his players died following a team workout.

Hogan expressed concern over the decision by the school’s governing board to retain head football coach D.J. Durkin and Athletic Director Damon Evans.

Shortly after Hogan’s comments, the university announced it was reversing its decision and had dismissed Durkin.

The original decision to retain the coach came despite reports of an abusive culture within the football program, and a recommendation from University of Maryland, College Park President Wallace Loh, that the school part ways with Durkin.

{mosads}“While the university system is required by law to operate independent of political influence… I can and will demand that the university is held accountable for making the reforms they have pledged to put in place with the full transparency that the students, parents and faculty expect and deserve,” Hogan said in a statement.

“The university system of Maryland has let down the University of Maryland community and the citizens of Maryland, and now is the time to fix it,” he added.

Today, I issued the following statement on the University System of Maryland Board of Regents’ announcements yesterday: pic.twitter.com/ihpoZnEp9v

— Governor Larry Hogan (@GovLarryHogan) October 31, 2018

Hogan, who is in the midst of a reelection campaign that he is heavily favored to win, urged the school to hold a public hearing to address the findings of an investigation into the death of football player Jordan McNair.

McNair was hospitalized in late May following a team workout. He died on June 13 from heatstroke, according to his family’s attorney.

Durkin has been on paid leave since August, while the school commissioned two separate independent investigations. 

The first focused on McNair’s death, and eventually faulted the school’s medical staff.

The second investigation came in response to an ESPN story describing a “toxic” culture that persisted with the football program under Durkin, where coaches regularly demeaned players, shouted anti-gay slurs and engaged in abusive behavior.

Both reports were taken into account in the decision to keep Durkin.

The school’s decision was widely condemned by local officials and national media. Numerous columnists tore into the university for failing to prioritize the well-being of its student-athletes, and several Maryland politicians questioned the choice to keep the football coach.

The Washington Post reported that multiple football players walked out of a team meeting with Durkin on Tuesday following his reinstatement.

-Updated 7:18 p.m.