Terrapins football defensive coordinator Scott Shafer, less than four months after his hiring, has stepped down due to personal reasons, the program announced Friday afternoon.

Shafer was one of coach D.J. Durkin’s first hires in early December and signed a three-year, $2.25 million deal. As a head coach, Shafer was 14-23 at Syracuse before he was fired Nov. 23.

“I want to thank DJ Durkin for the opportunity to be on his staff, but at this time I feel it’s best to step aside to tend to personal matters,” Shafer said in a news release. “I’m sincerely appreciative of his support and friendship.

The program did not announce who would replace Shafer in his absence.

“I, along with the entire Maryland football family, will continue to support Scott in every way that we can,” Durkin said in the release.