Mike Locksley addresses Kevin Sumlin arrest, confirms he will not be with Maryland this week
Maryland head coach Mike Locksley addressed the situation with offensive coordinator Kevin Sumlin during his press conference Tuesday. Sumlin was arrested over the weekend on DUI charges while the Terrapins were on a bye.
Locksley confirmed Sumlin won’t be with the team this week and disciplinary action will be taken. However, he’s considering it a “personnel issue” and said he won’t comment much further on the matter.
“We’re aware of the charges,” Locksley said. “It’s disappointing. As coaches, we have to set the example and model the behavior that we want our players. And we take it very seriously. At the same time, I will also say, he’s part of our football family and we’re going to support Kevin. To me, it’s a personnel issue that we’ll let the personnel and kind of what we’ve done in the past dictate how things play out.”
As far as Sumlin’s status for the rest of the season, Locksley didn’t comment by again pointing out it’s a personnel issue. He said “of course” disciplinary action would be coming, but wouldn’t say much more.
“It’s a personnel decision,” Locksley said. “We’ve handled these situations athletically in the past, and I think that we’ll follow those same systems by being a personnel matter. Not going to get into the weeds with it.”
More on Kevin Sumlin’s arrest, his first season at Maryland
Sumlin was arrested in the early morning hours Oct. 21 and refused a breathalyzer test, according to DBK News, via a Hillsborough County police report. As a result, his license will be suspended for one year, and he pleaded not guilty while waiving the arraignment. He could be facing up to six years in prison.
“The incident took place during Maryland’s bye week,” the report read. “Sumlin’s listed attorney declined to comment. A spokesperson for Maryland football did not immediately respond to request for comment. Sumlin was arrested around 1 a.m. Saturday on U.S. Highway 301 in Tampa, Florida. There was no crash or damage to property.”
Sumlin is in his first season as Maryland’s co-offensive coordinator after previously serving as the head coach of the USFL’s Houston Gamblers. Under his watch, the Terrapins rank second in the Big Ten in total offense and fourth in scoring.
Sumlin previously worked at the college level with Arizona from 2018-20 and was fired partway through the 2020 season after a 70-7 loss to Arizona State. During his two-plus seasons with the Wildcats, he had a 9-20 record.
Before his time with Arizona, Sumlin worked at Texas A&M as the head coach from 2012-17, amassing a 51-26 overall record and a 25-23 record in SEC play. He was fired after the 2017 season as the program opted to bring in Jimbo Fisher.