Maryland coach D.J. Durkin placed on leave as review of Jordan McNair's death continues
The University of Maryland has placed head football coach D.J. Durkin and three members of his support staff on administrative leave as the circumstances of offensive lineman Jordan McNair’s death continue to emerge.
The school announced Friday that members of the football staff had been placed on leave, and athletic director Damon Evans announced Saturday that Durkin is one of them. Offensive coordinator Matt Canada will serve as interim head coach.
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Damon Evans has announced Coach DJ Durkin is on leave effective immediately while a thorough examination of our coaching practices is conducted. Matt Canada will serve as interim head coach. We must do better, and we will rebuild a culture of respect in our football program. pic.twitter.com/lQArXIrkeB
— Maryland Terrapins (@umterps) August 11, 2018
Three members of support staff involved in May 29 workout also put on leave
Saturday morning, according to ESPN, players were informed that those being put on leave are head football athletic trainer Wes Robinson, director of athletic training Steve Nordwall, and assistant athletics director for sports performance Rick Court.
McNair died of heatstroke on June 13, two weeks after a May 29 workout led by Court at Maryland’s outdoor practice fields. McNair had difficulty standing upright while running a set of ten 110-yard sprints, at the conclusion of which, Robinson is alleged to have yelled “Drag his ass across the field!” Durkin was also on the field at the time of the conditioning workout when McNair was hospitalized.
Maryland’s external review of the circumstances is led by Dr. Rod Walters, a former longtime collegiate athletic trainer; the full review is expected to be made public Sept. 15. Baltimore law firm Murphy, Falcon & Murphy to conducting a separate investigation under the hire of McNair’s family.
News comes after ESPN report on Maryland’s ‘toxic culture’
On Friday, ESPN published an extensive report with quotes from current Maryland football players and others close to the program describing a “toxic” culture established under Durkin, who is entering his third season as head coach. The report also detailed behavior by Court, one of Durkin’s first hires after he was brought to Maryland from Michigan, where he was defensive coordinator.
Among what [the sources] shared about the program:
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