Maryland board recommends keeping DJ Durkin, Damon Evans

BALTIMORE -- The University System of Maryland Board of Regents is recommending that Maryland retain football coach DJ Durkin and athletic director Damon Evans following an investigation into allegations of abuse within Durkin's program, sources tell ESPN.

Maryland president Wallace Loh is expected to announce Tuesday that he will retire in June.

Board chair James Brady is expected to announce the recommendations and discuss the report's findings at a 3:30 p.m. ET news conference in Baltimore. The USM regents only have the authority to fire Loh and debated his job status for several weeks. Loh is expected to retain both Durkin, on paid administrative leave since August, and Evans, who Loh appointed as athletic director in July.

"The board of regents insisted that DJ return, and this has been their highest priority," a source with knowledge of the situation told ESPN. "Some regents appeared to be obsessed with it. The problem is they don't have the authority to hire and fire DJ, but they made it clear that is their main priority here. Because they can't hire and fire anybody, which they finally realized, they told Wallace Loh that they wanted him to bring DJ back and the clear message was that if Loh was not willing to bring DJ back right away, they would fire [Loh] immediately and then see who the acting president was and get that person to [retain Durkin]."

Durkin and two athletic trainers, Wes Robinson and Steve Nordwall, have been on administrative leave since Aug. 11, a day after an ESPN report about allegations of abuse within the football program.

Maryland commissioned two investigations in the wake of the June 13 death of offensive lineman Jordan McNair from heatstroke, which he suffered after a May 29 team workout. An investigation by Walters Inc. concluded last month, and a separate investigation into the culture of Durkin's program concluded with a report submitted to the regents Oct. 19. The investigation found no "toxic culture" within the football program but detailed many troubling issues.

The report showed differing perspectives of Durkin, who received strong support from some players, parents and others, and strong criticism from others. Investigators also found that Durkin, a first-time head coach, did not receive adequate support and development from Maryland's athletic department during his tenure.

"This is really at the board's insistence," the source said of retaining Durkin. "This is really not Dr. Loh's decision."

Loh, Evans and Durkin all met with the USM regents Friday in Baltimore. According to sources, Durkin was very impressive in addressing the board, which had been divided on whether to retain or fire him. All three were scheduled to meet with Maryland chancellor Robert Caret on Monday, but the meetings were postponed. Loh spent about an hour Monday afternoon in the Adelphi, Maryland, building where Caret keeps an office and told ESPN upon leaving that he could not comment about his status or that of others.

Maryland is expected to inform players of Durkin's expected return at a team meeting Tuesday afternoon before the team practices. Offensive coordinator Matt Canada has served as interim head coach since Durkin was placed on administrative leave. Canada said at a news conference earlier Tuesday that the players remain the staff's top priority after a tumultuous summer and fall.

"Our players are the focus, and they've been the focus," Canada said. "That's how it always has to be and always has been. It's about the players."

Jordan McNair's parents have repeatedly called for Durkin's dismissal.

"When I think of DJ Durkin, all I can remember is him sitting at our kitchen table assuring me that he would take care of my son," McNair's father, Marty, told ESPN. "And he did anything other than that. I think he should be relieved of his job. I don't think he should be allowed to coach anyone else's child, in an environment like this. My child died there. That's something we'll never get back. That's a wound that will never heal."