AP Photo/Nick Wass
The University of Maryland and head men's basketball coach Mark Turgeon mutually agreed to part ways.
The athletic director of Maryland released a statement.
We agreed that a coaching change was the best move for Turgeon and the Maryland Men's Basketball program. He has dedicated his life to the University of Maryland and has been a coach. I wish Mark, his wife Ann and their entire family all the best in the next chapter of their lives because he's a great coach and a great person.
Turgeon commented on the move.
I have decided that the best thing for Maryland Basketball is for me and my family to step down, effective immediately, as the head coach of Maryland Basketball. I have always believed that Maryland Basketball is bigger than one person. A new voice will guide the team after I leave.
I am proud of what we have accomplished in Maryland Basketball, and I have devoted myself to it for the last 10 seasons. It is through the combined effort of our coaches and players that we have been able to maintain consistent success in a sport that is ultra-competitive. I am very grateful to have worked with you. It has been an honor to be the men's basketball coach at the University of Maryland.
Turgeon was in the middle of his 11th season at the school. Turgeon leaves College Park with an overall record of 226- 116 with the program after Maryland is 5-3 so far this season.
Turgeon has previous head coaching jobs at Texas A&M, Jacksonville State, and Wichita State.
Maryland missed the NCAA tournament in each of his first three seasons, as well as the final three seasons in the conference. The Big Ten move turned their fortunes around.
The NCAA tournament was held six times over the next seven seasons, and Maryland reached the tourney five times.
The best chance for Maryland to go on a deep run may have been during the season in which it won the Big Ten regular-season title. The NCAA tournament was canceled because of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
The Terrapins went to the second round of the NCAA tournament three times under Turgeon and went to the Sweet 16 in 2016
Under Turgeon, Maryland won at least 20 games on six occasions.
Turgeon has led his teams to the NCAA tournament 10 times in 24 seasons as a collegiate head coach.
Danny Manning will serve as the interim head coach for the remainder of the season after Mark Turgeon left.
Manning was the top pick in the 1988 NBA draft and starred collegiately at Kansas. Manning has been a college coach since retiring from playing.
He was the head coach at Wake Forest for six seasons from 2014-20 and was the head coach at Tulsa for two seasons. He has taken teams to the NCAA tourney twice, and his overall record as a head coach is 116-140.
