Todd Bradford

Maryland announced the hiring Thursday of former New Mexico coach Mike Locksley as offensive coordinator, then switched its focus to the defense where the evaluation of coach Randy Edsall's staff may lead the team to hire a new defensive coordinator, according to multiple sources. Maryland began a review of the football program after a 2-10 season ending with eight losses in a row. Several sources said the program - after hiring Locksley to replace Gary Crowton - logically turned its attention to defense, and that coordinator Todd Bradford's job was not safe.

Maryland defensive coordinator Brian Stewart has agreed to terms of a contract extension, according to a source with direct knowledge of the pact. His original deal was set to expire Jan. 31. Terms were not disclosed. Maryland also will learn as soon as this week whether it will lose wide receivers coach Lee Hull, who is a finalist for Morgan State's head coaching job. On Tuesday, Morgan State completed interviewing its finalists, but no offer has yet been made. Stewart's previous deal paid $262,500 in base salary, plus an additional $87,500 for media appearances, fundraising activities, personal appearances, and equipment and apparel endorsements.

Maryland defensive coordinator Brian Stewart has agreed to terms of a contract extension, according to a source with direct knowledge of the pact. His original deal was set to expire Jan. 31. Terms were not disclosed. Maryland also will learn as soon as this week whether it will lose wide receivers coach Lee Hull, who is a finalist for Morgan State's head coaching job. On Tuesday, Morgan State completed interviewing its finalists, but no offer has yet been made. Stewart's previous deal paid $262,500 in base salary, plus an additional $87,500 for media appearances, fundraising activities, personal appearances, and equipment and apparel endorsements.

Towson coach Rob Ambrose was having a conversation with his agent this spring and asked if he knew anyone interested in joining his staff to work with the defensive line. Ambrose's agent, Dennis Cordell, mentioned a very familiar name - former Denver Broncos lineman Rubin Carter, who had spent the past 23 years coaching on the pro and college levels, including as a head coach at Florida A&M. "My eyes popped open," Ambrose recalled. "I thought 'No way' [would he come to Towson].

The Wilde Lake boys soccer season began with uncertainty. It ended definitively.When the third-ranked Wildecats won their sixth statechampionship Saturday at Old Mill High School, downing Clear Spring of Washington County in the Class 1A final, 4-1, they left no doubt about their superiority.In September, when the season began, the Wildecats knew they had two elite offensive players in Hamisi Amani-Dove and Matt Nesbitt. And those two put on quite a show Saturday, each scoring two goals. Nesbitt also had an assist.

In October 2006, Maryland linebacker Erin Henderson intercepted a pass and returned it 45 yards for a touchdown in a comeback win over Virginia. After that came a pronounced drought. Forty-one games — more than three years — elapsed before Maryland scored another defensive touchdown, on a lumbering, 70-yard interception return by linebacker Alex Wujciak in 2009. Since Wujciak's big play, Maryland's defense has demonstrated a penchant for scoring. The Terps have managed eight defensive touchdowns in the past 18 games — including two in this season's opening-week victory over Miami.

The hiring of Brian Stewart as Maryland's defensive coordinator is a move that is being celebrated on a number of fronts. It signifies a return to the attacking style and the 3-4 formation the Terps played under Don Brown, whose sudden departure last spring left new coach Randy Edsall scrambling for a replacement. Edsall wound up promoting linebackers coach Todd Bradford, whose 4-3 scheme turned All-ACC safety Kenny Tate into a linebacker and contributed to Maryland's finishing 108th in the country in overall defense after being ranked 39th under Brown in 2010.

Baltimore Sun reporters Jeff Barker and Don Markus and intern Connor Letourneau -- co-sports editor of The Diamondback -- weigh in on the three biggest topics of the past week in Maryland sports. How did the Kevin Anderson-to-Stanford story get started, and has it really been put to rest? Jeff Barker: I don't know quite how it began. Was somebody trying to get Anderson in the mix for the Stanford athletic director position by floating his name like a trial balloon?

Towson coach Rob Ambrose was having a conversation with his agent this spring and asked if he knew anyone interested in joining his staff to work with the defensive line. Ambrose's agent, Dennis Cordell, mentioned a very familiar name - former Denver Broncos lineman Rubin Carter, who had spent the past 23 years coaching on the pro and college levels, including as a head coach at Florida A&M. "My eyes popped open," Ambrose recalled. "I thought 'No way' [would he come to Towson].

Baltimore Sun reporters Jeff Barker and Don Markus and editor Matt Bracken weigh in on the three biggest topics of the past week in Maryland  sports. Is Randy Edsall on the hot seat? Jeff Barker: I'm going to preface my response by saying that this is not my opinion. Rather, it's  something I've spoken to the athletic department about because it's obviously an important subject and you don't want to just be guessing. The best answer right now is that Maryland says he's not on the hot seat.

Baltimore Sun reporters Jeff Barker and Don Markus and editor Matt Bracken weigh in on the three biggest topics of the past week in Maryland  sports. Is Randy Edsall on the hot seat? Jeff Barker: I'm going to preface my response by saying that this is not my opinion. Rather, it's  something I've spoken to the athletic department about because it's obviously an important subject and you don't want to just be guessing. The best answer right now is that Maryland says he's not on the hot seat.

Baltimore Sun reporters Jeff Barker and Don Markus and intern Connor Letourneau -- co-sports editor of The Diamondback -- weigh in on the three biggest topics of the past week in Maryland sports. How did the Kevin Anderson-to-Stanford story get started, and has it really been put to rest? Jeff Barker: I don't know quite how it began. Was somebody trying to get Anderson in the mix for the Stanford athletic director position by floating his name like a trial balloon?

The hiring of Brian Stewart as Maryland's defensive coordinator is a move that is being celebrated on a number of fronts. It signifies a return to the attacking style and the 3-4 formation the Terps played under Don Brown, whose sudden departure last spring left new coach Randy Edsall scrambling for a replacement. Edsall wound up promoting linebackers coach Todd Bradford, whose 4-3 scheme turned All-ACC safety Kenny Tate into a linebacker and contributed to Maryland's finishing 108th in the country in overall defense after being ranked 39th under Brown in 2010.

Maryland has completed a negotiated buyout of defensive coordinator Todd Bradford's contract -- clearing the way for the school to hire a replacement. The Sun reported Dec. 22 that Bradford -- whose defense  ranked last in the Atlantic Coast Conference, surrendering an average of 34.2 points and 457.2 yards per game -- was likely out. The school has now reached a buyout agreement with Bradford. The terms are not yet public. "We appreciate Todd's efforts this past season and wish him well in his future endeavors," Maryland coach Randy Edsall said in a news release.

Maryland announced the hiring Thursday of former New Mexico coach Mike Locksley as offensive coordinator, then switched its focus to the defense where the evaluation of coach Randy Edsall's staff may well lead to the team hiring a new defensive coordinator, according to multiple sources. Under Todd Bradford, Maryland ranked last in the Atlantic Coast Conference in defense, surrendering an average of 34.2 points and 457.2 yards per game. Bradford, in his first season with the Terps, was a replacement for Don Brown, who had served as defensive coordinator under former coach Ralph Friedgen.

Maryland announced the hiring Thursday of former New Mexico coach Mike Locksley as offensive coordinator, then switched its focus to the defense where the evaluation of coach Randy Edsall's staff may lead the team to hire a new defensive coordinator, according to multiple sources. Maryland began a review of the football program after a 2-10 season ending with eight losses in a row. Several sources said the program - after hiring Locksley to replace Gary Crowton - logically turned its attention to defense, and that coordinator Todd Bradford's job was not safe.

Maryland has completed a negotiated buyout of defensive coordinator Todd Bradford's contract -- clearing the way for the school to hire a replacement. The Sun reported Dec. 22 that Bradford -- whose defense  ranked last in the Atlantic Coast Conference, surrendering an average of 34.2 points and 457.2 yards per game -- was likely out. The school has now reached a buyout agreement with Bradford. The terms are not yet public. "We appreciate Todd's efforts this past season and wish him well in his future endeavors," Maryland coach Randy Edsall said in a news release.

Maryland announced the hiring Thursday of former New Mexico coach Mike Locksley as offensive coordinator, then switched its focus to the defense where the evaluation of coach Randy Edsall's staff may well lead to the team hiring a new defensive coordinator, according to multiple sources. Under Todd Bradford, Maryland ranked last in the Atlantic Coast Conference in defense, surrendering an average of 34.2 points and 457.2 yards per game. Bradford, in his first season with the Terps, was a replacement for Don Brown, who had served as defensive coordinator under former coach Ralph Friedgen.

In October 2006, Maryland linebacker Erin Henderson intercepted a pass and returned it 45 yards for a touchdown in a comeback win over Virginia. After that came a pronounced drought. Forty-one games — more than three years — elapsed before Maryland scored another defensive touchdown, on a lumbering, 70-yard interception return by linebacker Alex Wujciak in 2009. Since Wujciak's big play, Maryland's defense has demonstrated a penchant for scoring. The Terps have managed eight defensive touchdowns in the past 18 games — including two in this season's opening-week victory over Miami.

The Wilde Lake boys soccer season began with uncertainty. It ended definitively.When the third-ranked Wildecats won their sixth statechampionship Saturday at Old Mill High School, downing Clear Spring of Washington County in the Class 1A final, 4-1, they left no doubt about their superiority.In September, when the season began, the Wildecats knew they had two elite offensive players in Hamisi Amani-Dove and Matt Nesbitt. And those two put on quite a show Saturday, each scoring two goals. Nesbitt also had an assist.