Ole Miss Hiring Former Maryland Coach DJ Durkin as an Assistant is a Disgrace to College Football

A man who is almost directly responsible for the death of a college student is being permitted to work around and coach college football players once again.

In a shocking display from Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss, former Maryland head coach DJ Durkin, who was fired after both the death of offensive lineman Jordan McNair during a workout and reports of a corrosive culture in College Park, will join the Rebels as an assistant coach.

Durkin, a former defensive coordinator at Michigan and Florida, posted a 10-15 record as Maryland head coach. He was suspended after reports of a toxic culture around the program started to gradually leak out, and was subsequently fired weeks later after several players walked out on him during a team meeting.

Ole Miss claims that they felt comfortable hiring Durkin after conducting a thorough background check. After a brief cameo with the Atlanta Falcons at training camp, Durkin remained in Maryland, coaching his kids' teams and still receiving a check from UMD.

Whatever Durkin's skills are with Xs and Os, the fact that he's managed to land a college job confirms that nepotism is alive and well in college football. How can he go into a recruit's living room and convince both him and his family that he has their best interests at heart after what happened back in 2018?