Offensive Coordinator

Calling it the hardest decision he's had to make as a coach, John Harbaugh fired Cam Cameron on Monday, ending the offensive coordinator's five-season tenure which was defined by some improvement but overall inconsistency. Jim Caldwell, the Ravens' quarterbacks coach and the former head coach of the Indianapolis Colts, will take over offensive coordinator and play-calling duties immediately. The somewhat surprising move - given the Ravens' first-place standing in the AFC North at 9-4 and the organization's history of not making rash decisions - came a day after the Ravens' 31-28 overtime loss to the Washington Redskins.

Offensive coordinator Cam Cameron will be back with the Ravens next season. Ravens coach John Harbaugh said Friday, though, that Cameron was never going anywhere in the first place. "I don't know that an announcement is necessary," Harbaugh said. At the news conference introducing linebackers coach Dean Pees as the team's next defensive coordinator, other members of the coaching staff, there to support Pees, sat in the back of the auditorium. Cameron was one of them. When Harbaugh opened the conference to questions from the media, the first one asked was not about Pees, but Cameron's status for the 2012 season.

As expected, Maryland has hired former New Mexico coach Mike Locksley to be its offensive coordinator. Here's the full release:   COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Randy Edsall, head coach of the University of Maryland football team, announced Thursday that Mike Locksley has been hired as the Terrapins' offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Locksley, a native of Washington, DC, returns to Maryland after previously spending six years (1998-02) as an assistant coach on the Terrapins staff.

Gary Crowton is out after one disappointing season as Maryland's offensive coordinator, and the school is expected to hire former New Mexico coach Mike Locksley as his replacement, according to a source with knowledge of the situation. Locksley, dismissed by New Mexico this past season, had a 2-26 win-loss record at the school but is known as an aggressive recruiter. He is a former Maryland assistant and recruiting coordinator and played defensive back for Towson in 1988-1991 before also serving as an assistant there.

PHILADELPHIA // After Michael Vick tossed four interceptions, was sacked twice, and finished with a 50.9 rating in the Philadelphia Eagles' 17-16 win against the Cleveland Browns, the quarterback has been poked and prodded by media and fans alike. One line of questioning has involved Vick's state of mind as the Eagles prepare for their home opener against the Ravens this Sunday. But offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg simply pointed to Vick's ability to engineer the game-winning, touchdown drive against the Browns as Exhibit No. 1 in his faith in Vick's confidence level.

Maryland coach Ralph Friedgen will resume his role as offensive coordinator for the 2007 season, a school spokesman confirmed yesterday. NCAA rules prohibit football staffs from having more than nine assistants, and because Friedgen hired Kevin Lempa to replace former secondary coach Tim Banks, who left to become defensive coordinator at Central Michigan, there are no vacancies left on staff. Friedgen doubled as head coach and called the offensive plays in last year's 9-4 season. Under his direction, the Terps finished no lower than sixth in the Atlantic Coast Conference in total offense (314.

COLLEGE PARK -- Bob Heffner, who coached tight ends and offensive tackles in his two seasons with Maryland, was promoted to offensive coordinator, university officials said yesterday.Heffner was offensive coordinator for the Canadian Football League's British Columbia Lions from 1990 to 1992.Former offensive coordinator Craig Johnson will remain on staff as quarterbacks coach.Pub Date: 2/11/99

Navy football coach George Chaump has named an offensive coordinator for the first time in his 11-year head coaching career, the academy announced yesterday.Greg Briner, the new coordinator, has spent the last three years at Marshall University as offensive coordinator, and the last two as quarterbacks coach. Before that, he was on the Indianapolis Colts staff for four years, the first three as a research and quality control assistant and the last as quarterbacks coach.In addition, defensive line coach Denny Murphy has been promoted to defensive coordinator, and quarterbacks coach Mike Drake has been switched to the defensive secondary.

Three weeks after being dismissed by Boston College for pursuing the New York Jets' head coaching job, Jeff Jagodzinski was hired yesterday by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to be their offensive coordinator. Jagodzinski led Boston College to a pair of bowl appearances and lost twice to Virginia Tech in the Atlantic Coast Conference title game during his two seasons with the Eagles. He was an NFL assistant for eight years with the Green Bay Packers and Atlanta Falcons before moving to BC, where he tutored quarterback Matt Ryan, the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year.

NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - Virginia athletic director Terry Holland said yesterday that there is no truth to widespread media reports that Florida State offensive coordinator Mark Richt has been offered the Cavaliers' head coaching position. Holland said all candidates are still being evaluated equally. By early January, Holland hopes to name a successor to George Welsh, who announced Dec. 11 that he is retiring. Sources said Saturday night that Richt, who helped develop Heisman Trophy quarterbacks Charlie Ward and Chris Weinke, had been offered the job. Richt, 40, whose Seminoles face top-ranked Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 3, did not return phone messages.