Ralph Friedgen said he enjoyed filling the Terrapin football team’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach role during spring practice. He talked about the time spent on his extra duties and interviewed candidates to fill out his staff.
Monday, Friedgen announced the hiring of former Temple defensive line coach Phil Zacharias as the Terps’ new running backs coach. Former running backs coach John Donovan will assume the quarterback coaching job and Friedgen will continue to serve as the Terps’ offensive coordinator.
Charlie Taaffe, who had been the Terps’ offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach since 2001, resigned in February. As Friedgen interviewed candidates throughout spring practices, he said he wouldn’t just hire someone for the sake of filling the position.
“I’m looking for a lot,” Friedgen said on the last day of spring practice. “I’m looking for a guy – who can understand our system ’cause it’s gonna be a very short time.”
That day, Friedgen added that he interviewed six or seven coaches for the position, and The Washington Post reported Tuesday that the Terps spoke with Illinois offensive coordinator Mike Locksley but were restricted by Locksley’s contract.
Zacharias was the defensive line coach at Temple for only one season as the Owls recorded 17 team sacks. From 2002-04, he worked as a defensive assistant and outside linebackers coach for the Baltimore Ravens.
During his coaching career, Zacharias has never been an offensive assistant. He has coached on defense and special teams at stops including a seven-year one at Stanford.
In the Red-White Spring Game, the Terps compiled 212 yards rushing while the quarterbacks struggled, going 22-53 for a combined 236 yards.
Contact reporter Stephen Whyno at whynodbk@gmail.com.
