Maryland football head coach Mike Locksley has officially filled one vacancy on his staff after the program announced the hire of East Carolina assistant Andre Powell as the new special teams coordinator, bringing the longtime assistant back to College Park for a second stint.
IBG reported Powell's candidacy to rejoin Maryland's staff on Feb. 2 for subscribers and confirmed his title on Feb. 11.
Powell leaves East Carolina after one season as the running backs coach and special teams coordinator where the Pirates led the American conference in net kickoff yards (43.9) and improved their field goal percentage, average punt yardage and kick return yards compared to 2023.
Powell joins the program with over 35 years of experience including the bulk of the last 25 as a special teams coordinator where he’s also previously coached at Pitt, Clemson, North Carolina and Virginia. But this will be his second time working with Locksley in College Park after Powell previously coached at Maryland for four seasons beginning in 2011 under then-head coach Randy Edsall with three of those seasons overlapping with Locksley. While he spent all four years as the Terps’ running backs coach, his final three also included special teams coordinator and it was under Powell when Maryland produced 2014 Lou Groza Award winner Brad Craddock.
Powell left Maryland to coach at Pitt where he coached James Connor as the Panthers’ running backs coach, while he also produced punter Kirk Christodoulou, former All-American Quadree Henderson, current Bengals long snapper Cal Adomitis and Carolina Panthers kicker Alex Kessman.
Analyst Ron Zook coached the special teams unit following the first bye week of the 2024 season, taking over a unit once led by James Thomas beginning in 2022 after replacing Zook. Thomas is expected to remain with the program after remaining the outside linebacker coach through 2024, while it was Thomas who was the lead recruiter for Imhotep (Pa.) four-star edge Zahir Mathis as Maryland closed out the 2025 cycle.
Powell becomes the second assistant to join Maryland’s staff this offseason alongside Pep Hamilton, who was announced as the program's fourth offensive coordinator during the Mike Locksley era.
Powell’s coaching experience:
East Carolina: 2024, special teams coordinator
Pitt: 2015-23, special teams coordinator, RBs
Maryland: 2011-14, RBs; 2012-14, special teams coordinator
Clemson: 2007-10, RBs; 2008-10, special teams coordinator
North Carolina: 2001-06, RBs; 2004-06, special teams coordinator
Virginia: 1996, 2000, RBs; 1997-99, WRs
Rhode Island: 1993-94, RBs
VMI: 1992, RBs
Army: 1991, ILBs; 1995, RBs
South Carolina: 1990, GA
Indiana: 1988, student assistant; 1989, GA
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