Head coach Mike Locksley has officially announced that assistants Louis Swaba and Corey Liuget have been elevated to on-field roles with Swaba taking over the running back room and Liuget taking over the defensive line.
Full staff (except announced DC):
2025 Maryland Football Coaching Staff Updates (as of February 27)
Pep Hamilton - Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks Coach (previously announced)
Andre Powell - Special Teams Coordinator (previously announced)
Hal Hunter - Tackles & Tight Ends Coach
Corey Liuget - Defensive Line Coach
Louis Swaba - Running Backs Coach
Latrell Scott - Wide Receivers Coach
Damian Wroblewski - Offensive Line Coach
James Thomas Jr. - Safeties Coach
Zac Spavital - Inside Linebackers Coach
Derek Kief - Assistant Wide Receivers Coach
Chili Davis - Assistant Special Teams Coordinator
Jarrod James - Offensive Assistant
Nick Newsome - Defensive Assistant
Every single announced hire was previously and accurately reported by IBG in our Feb. 14 update, while Ted Monachino, who is expected to take over as outside linebackers coach and defensive coordinator, is working toward a finalized contract.
Swaba is expected to take over the running back room with Latrell Scott, who coached the position over the last two seasons, expected to move to wide receivers coach. Swaba's one-year, $125,000 deal runs through Jan. 31, 2026, per a university records request.
This marks the second consecutive promotion in as many offseasons with Swaba viewed as a rising star inside the building. Swaba was elevated to senior quality control assistant ahead of the 2024 season while the staff vacancies to begin the offseason allowed the longtime off-field assistant to hit the recruiting trail, making his way around the DMV while also dipping down into the Carolinas and Georgia.
Swaba, an App State grad, began his coaching career in 2012 as a grad assistant at Wingate University before stints at Limestone College, Charlotte and East Carolina. He joined the program as a quality control specialist back in June of 2019 and has been viewed as a rising star inside the program over the last two years, making his second promotion in as many seasons a well-deserved honor for the North Carolina native.
With Pep Hamilton previously announced as both quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator, assistant Latrell Scott remains has also been announced as the program’s new wide receivers coach. Maryland also announced the addition of Andre Powell as the program’s new special teams coordinator, joining the program after one season at East Carolina.
For the first time since 2020, Maryland football will have a new coach on the defensive side of the trenches with Corey Liuget, a former first-round pick, in his first on-field role.
Liuget, 34, served as a defensive analyst in 2024 and one-year, $200,000 contract runs through Jan. 31, 2026, per a university records request.
Liuget joined the program ahead of last season where he filled the vacancy left by NaVorro Bowman, who joined Jim Harbaugh on the Chargers' new staff. A Florida native who rose to stardom at Hialeah High School (FL), Liuget became an All-Big Ten lineman at Illinois before materializing as the 18th overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft. Liuget will take over a unit while longtime NFL assistant Ted Monachino expected to become senior defensive assistant, working to bolster a revamped defensive line.
Liuget will take over a unit that returns Lavon Johnson, Dillan Fontus and Neeo Avery while former Saint Francis DL Eyan Thomas and Florida State edge DD Holmes transferred into the program this offseason. Freshmen Sidney Stewart and Bryce Jenkins, meanwhile, are among the 11 early enrollees.
“I met a young Corey at Hialea [High School], man. I think we had a little basketball game, if I can remember there in the gym – horse for his commitment," head coach Mike Locksley said of Liuget last fall. "We got Reggie Mitchell, who we worked with together with Coach [Ron] Zook at Illinois, recruited that area, but I can remember Reggie brought the specialists in,” head coach Mike Locksley added. “Corey was [an] athletic guy and I had to make a few bets that I would beat him in horse. I was dunking it at the time, Johnny. He couldn’t dunk.”
Meanwhile, assistants James Thomas Jr. and Zac Spavital have changed positions with Thomas now coaching the safeties and Spavital taking over the inside linebacker room.
More via release:
Hunter brings over 40 years of coaching experience with him to College Park. He worked in the NFL from 2006-2022, most notably serving as the San Diego Chargers Offensive Coordinator during the 2012 season. Hunter spent seven seasons with the Chargers, helping the team to a 70-42 record during his time there, including an appearance in the 2008 AFC Championship game. Prior to his time in the NFL, Hunter held collegiate coaching positions at William & Mary, Pittsburgh, Columbia, Indiana (PA), Vanderbilt, LSU, Indiana and North Carolina. To read Hunter’s full bio, click here.
Liuget is entering his second season with the Terps and first as the Defensive Line Coach. A former first-round NFL Draft pick, Liuget spent a decade in the NFL before transitioning to coaching and quickly rising up the ranks. In his first season at Maryland, Liuget served as a Defensive Assistant, working closely with the defensive line. Liuget helped develop defensive linemen Tommy Akingbesote and Jordan Phillips, both of whom were invited to the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine. To read Liuget’s full bio, click here.
Swaba has been with the Terrapins for all but one season since June of 2019, serving as a Quality Control Specialist and Senior Quality Control Specialist. He spent the 2021 season as a Quality Control Coach working with the offense at his alma mater, Appalachian State. Prior to Maryland, Swaba spent two seasons at East Carolina University (2017-19), first as a Quality Control Coordinator and then as an Offensive Analyst. To read Swaba’s full bio, click here.
Kief joined the Terps in April of 2024 as an Offensive Analyst and worked closely with the Maryland wide receiving corps last year. Kief mentored AP All-American Tai Felton, who was the Big Ten leader in catches and yards during the regular season. Felton set the Maryland school record for single-season catches (96) this past season. A Cincinnati, Ohio native, Kief played wide receiver at Alabama from 2014-18, playing under Locksley for his final three seasons with the Crimson Tide. To read Kief’s full bio, click here.
Davis joins the Terps with over a decade of coaching experience and having worked with special teams units at numerous different coaching stops. He comes to College Park after spending last year with the Los Angeles Rams as a Special Teams Assistant. Davis also has previous collegiate coaching stops at Kansas State, Florida A&M, Washington, New Mexico State, Fordham and Campbell. To read Davis’ full bio, click here.
James joins the Maryland coaching staff in 2025 and will be assisting with coaching the offensive line. Before arriving in College Park, James spent three seasons with the Houston Texans as an Offensive Assistant Coach, working closely with the offensive line. He also has collegiate coaching stops at Michigan State, Arkansas State and North Carolina. To read James’ full bio, click here.
Newsome will be working with the Terrapins secondary after spending the 2024 season as a Defensive Analyst at the University of North Carolina. While working under Hall of Fame Head Coach Mack Brown, Newsome worked with the Tar Heels’ safeties, nickels and special teams units last year. Prior to his time in Chapel Hill, Newsome was the Special Teams Coordinator and Safeties Coach at Gardner-Webb University. He helped lead the Runnin’ Bulldogs to a conference championship and a bid in the FCS playoffs. To read Newsome’s full bio, click here.
Related Links
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
Follow us on Instagram
Follow us on YouTube