Former Maryland head coach D.J. Durkin has joined the coaching staff at Ole Miss to work as an assistant under Lane Kiffin.
The school announced the hiring Thursday, naming Durkin, Chris Partridge and Joe Jon Finley as assistant coaches. The school did not specify what role Durkin will fill.
Durkin was fired at Maryland in October 2018 after being on extensive leave during an investigation into the death of Terrapins player Jordan McNair earlier that year. The investigation also focused on the culture of Maryland’s program during Durkin’s tenure.
McNair died on June 13, 2018, of heatstroke suffered two weeks earlier in a team workout, and Durkin was placed on leave on Aug. 11, 2018. After Maryland conducted investigations into both the workout and the culture of Durkin’s program, the coach was reinstated by the board of regents on Oct. 30, then, in the face of criticism of the decision, was fired the next day by school president Wallace Loh.
Durkin brings 14 years of coaching experience to Ole Miss, including his three seasons at Maryland. He was the defensive coordinator/linebackers coach for Michigan in 2015, when the Wolverines’ defense allowed only 16.4 points per game (sixth in the FBS). He also coached five seasons at Florida.