Ralph Friedgen’s 2010 season was his last as Terp coach.
Geographically, Rutgers fits as a prime candidate for the Terrapins football team’s rival when it moves to the Big Ten this summer. Plus, the Scarlet Knights make their move from the Big East-turned-American Athletic Conference at the same time as the Terps.
But when Rutgers visits Byrd Stadium on Nov. 29 in the season finale, there reportedly will be a familiar face on the sidelines, one that could stoke a new rivalry in a new conference.
According to numerous reports — including ones from ESPN’s Brett McMurphy and The Star-Ledger‘s Tom Luicci — former Terps coach Ralph Friedgen will join Rutgers coach Kyle Flood’s staff as offensive coordinator.
Friedgen has been retired since winning ACC Coach of the Year honors in 2010, when he went 9-4 and led the Terps to a Military Bowl victory. He was fired, and Randy Edsall was hired to replace him.
Friedgen was 75-50 with seven bowl appearances in 10 seasons as Terps coach. The Terps won the 2001 ACC Championship and had 10-win seasons in 2001-03. Friedgen previously served as offensive coordinator for Georgia Tech, the Terps, the San Diego Chargers, Murray State, William & Mary and The Citadel.
Friedgen won’t be the only familiar face the Terps square off with this season. The Terps travel to State College, Pa., on Nov. 1 to take on Penn State, which hired former offensive coordinator and coach-in-waiting James Franklin earlier this month.
And there could be more on the way. Luicci also reported Rutgers has spoken to former coach Ron Vanderlinden.
