At his introductory news conference, new Maryland coach D.J. Durkin outlined his vision for a program in flux coming off a disappointing season.
And it’s a vision that doesn’t stray far from Durkin’s roots as a native of Youngstown, Ohio.
“I really identify with this program,” Durkin said. “I think this is a blue collar place, a blue collar university, a blue collar program.”
Durkin, 37, was Michigan's defensive coordinator this season. He joins a program that competes in one of the toughest divisions in college football, the Big Ten Conference East division, Durkin doesn’t plan to back down from going against two of his mentors in Wolverines coach Jim Harbaugh and Ohio State coach Urban Meyer.