Maryland

UMD President Postpones Retirement Until June 2020

Board of Regents searching for Dr. Wallace Loh's replacement

What to Know

  • Dr. Wallace Loh announced in October he planned to retire in June 2019 after the Board of Regents recommended keeping the football coach
  • The football program had been investigated after the death of a player who collapsed on the field during a workout
  • Loh and the Board of Regents have now agreed to a June 2020 retirement date

The president of the University of Maryland has agreed to stay on until June 2020 while the University System of Maryland’s Board of Regents searches for his replacement.

Dr. Wallace Loh announced in October he planned to retire in June 2019. He made the announcement at a Board of Regents news conference about the results of the independent investigation of the culture of the football program that came after the death of 19-year-old offensive lineman Jordan McNair, who died of heatstroke June 13, two weeks after collapsing on the field during a preseason workout.

At the same news conference, the Board of Regents announced its recommendation to keep head coach DJ Durkin, who had been on administrative leave. After a day of backlash over that recommendation, Loh fired Durkin, saying the university bought out his contract.

At a Maryland House of Delegates appropriations hearing in November, Loh said he warned the Board of Regents it was a mistake to keep Durkin.

The board met Wednesday to discuss the next steps in finding a new university president.

“These types of searches at flagship campuses and major research institutions often take up to a year or more,” Board of Regents Chair Linda Gooden said.

Loh said he met with the board and agreed to postpone his retirement a year to ensure a smooth leadership transition.

Prince George’s County Executive Angela Alsobrooks said she’d like to see Loh remain president.

“I would love to see Dr. Loh stay and complete the work that he started and would love to continue working with him as a partner,” she said. “He's been magnificent and he should not leave.”

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