Less than a month after firing head coach Mike Locksley, Maryland appears to be zeroing in on his successor, and former Notre Dame and LSU head coach Brian Kelly has interviewed for the position, according to reports from ON3 and USA TODAY Sports. ON3 reported that Kelly is considered a top name in the Terrapins' search, while multiple individuals with direct knowledge of the situation told USA TODAY Sports that he has interviewed for the job.

Kelly has not coached since last season, when LSU fired him after a 34-14 record over more than three seasons. His ouster came with a reported $54 million buyout, and Lane Kiffin later replaced him in Baton Rouge. Maryland's search followed Locksley's departure in October, described as a mutual decision after the team started 2-5. Aazaar Abdul-Rahim has served as interim coach, and the team is 1-1 under him. The search is being handled by Chad Chatlos' TurnkeyZRG firm.S1S2

USA TODAY Sports reported that Kelly spoke extensively with Maryland officials during the first half of November, starting early in the search, and met off-site with school officials. He has also been working to position himself to assemble a staff quickly, speaking with potential assistant coaches, front-office personnel, general managers and executive athletics administrators. During the interview process he outlined the roster changes Maryland would need to become a middle-to-upper-tier contender in the Big Ten. Kelly also has a longstanding relationship with Under Armour founder Kevin Plank, a former Terps football player whose company is Maryland's exclusive apparel provider.S2

Since leaving LSU, Kelly has worked as a college football analyst for CBS Sports while signaling his interest in returning to the sidelines. In late October he praised the Big Ten's appeal and Maryland's position within it, noting the fertile recruiting area of the DMV and the school's facility upgrades. In early November he said he would love to be a head coach again if the right fit emerged. Kelly, 65, has 22 years of FBS experience with a 200-76 record and has twice been named AP Coach of the Year. He has also expressed interest in the Florida State job.S1S2