Mark Turgeon is stepping down, effective immedately, as Maryland men’s basketball coach, it was announced Friday.
Assistant coach Danny Manning has been named interim head coach for the remainder of the season, starting with Sunday’s game vs. Northwestern.
“After a series of conversations with Coach Turgeon, we agreed that a coaching change was the best move,” Maryland athletic director Damon Evans said in a statement. “He has dedicated over a decade of his life to the University of Maryland, and has coached with distinction and honor.”
Turgeon has coached the Terps for 10-plus seasons, posting a 226-116 record and taking the program to the NCAA tournament in five of the last six seasons and winning the 2020 Big Ten title.
“After several in depth conversations with Damon, I have decided that the best thing for Maryland Basketball, myself and my family is to step down, effective immediately, as the head coach of Maryland Basketball,” Turgeon said in a statement. “I have always preached that Maryland Basketball is bigger than any one individual. My departure will enable a new voice to guide the team moving forward.
“Maryland Basketball has been my passion and focus for the last 10 seasons, and I am extremely proud of what we have accomplished. It is through the combined effort and commitment from our coaches and players, both past and present, that we have sustained consistent success in a sport that is ultra-competitive. I am extremely grateful to have worked with each and every one of you.”
Maryland said it would start a national search for a new coach following this season.
Manning, who played with Turgeon at Kansas in the 1980s, was hired as an assistant in April. He formerly served as head coach at Wake Forest for six seasons and was fired after the 2020 season with a 78-111 mark and just one NCAA tournament appearance.
“We are fortunate that Coach Turgeon has surrounded himself with an outstanding group of coaches,” Evans said. “Coach Manning has been a head coach at the highest level and we have the utmost confidence in his abilities to lead this program.”