The Maryland football team and defensive coordinator Brian Stewart have agreed to part ways, the program announced Thursday, ending a three-year tenure of diminishing returns.
Keith Dudzinski, who has served as the team’s inside linebackers coach the past four seasons, has been named his replacement.
“We appreciate Brian’s contributions to our program over the past three seasons,” coach Randy Edsall said in a release. “Brian played an integral role in developing our student-athletes both on and off the field during his time at Maryland. While overseeing the defense he helped elevate our program to compete in one of the nation’s premier conferences. In our conversations, we both felt this was the best of course of action for Brian and his family, and the Maryland football program. I wish Brian the best in his future endeavors.”
In Stewart's first year, in 2012, Maryland finished No. 21 nationally in total defense. The next season, the Terps fell to No. 44. This past season, they finished No. 97, third worst in the Big Ten Conference.
Last January, he signed a multiyear extension with the Terps.
“I truly enjoyed working with the coaches, student-athletes and administration at the University of Maryland,” Stewart said in the release. “It was an exciting time to be a part of this program, and I will always have great memories and relationships from my time in College Park. After talking with my family and then meeting with Randy, we both agreed that this was best direction moving forward. I would like to thank Randy for the opportunity to coordinate the defense for the past three seasons. I also want to express my appreciation to the defensive staff and players for their hard work and commitment to the football program.”