Mike Locksley
Encyclopedia
Mike Locksley is an American football
coach. After serving as an assistant coach for several college football
squads, he became the 29th head coach of the University of New Mexico
Lobos football team in 2009. Locksley was fired on September 25, 2011 after going 2–26.
.
. He redshirted his first year and then spent two seasons sharing time at safety and then cornerback
, backing up Towson veteran Bryant Hall. For the 1990 season he had 43 tackles and two interceptions at safety, after he filled in for the injured Aaron Bates. He was named the Tigers' Defensive Player of the Year for his senior season. He graduated in the spring of 1992 with a degree in marketing, but knew that he wanted to be a college coach.
for the 1992 season, then defensive coordinator at Naval Academy Preparatory School
in 1993 (defensive backs) and 1994 (defensive line), was outside linebackers coach at the University of the Pacific for 1995, then spent the 1996 season coaching tight ends and split ends at Army
Black Knights football
.
Locksley became the running backs coach for the University of Maryland
Terrapins football
under head coach Ron Vanderlinden
in February 1997. Ron Vanderlinden named Locksley to the additional post of recruiting coordinator, replacing Chris Cosh
who left to take the defensive coordinator's job at Michigan State, in February 1998. After Vanderlinden was fired, in 2000, and Ralph Friedgen
was named head coach, Locksley and wide receivers coach James Franklin were the only two assistants to be retained by Maryland.
In February 2003, after six years at Maryland, he was named as running backs coach and recruiting coordinator at the University of Florida
under Ron Zook
, replacing Tyke Tolbert, who left to be a coach with the Arizona Cardinals
of the NFL.
Locksley was named offensive coordinator at the University of Illinois
Fighting Illini
in January 2005, replacing Larry Fedora
who went to Oklahoma State University
, pairing Locksley again with head coach Ron Zook. He is credited with luring at least nine players from the Washington D.C. area for Illinois from 2005 through 2008, including wide receiver Arrelious Benn
, 2007 Big Ten Freshman of the Year.
on December 9, 2008. He signed a six-year contract worth $750,000 annually.
In late May 2009, a former administrative assistant at New Mexico filed an age and sex discrimination complaint against Locksley with the Equal Opportunity Commission. The complaint was filed by Locksley's former administrative assistant Sylvia Lopez. Lopez claimed to have been subjected to age and sexual discrimination before being transferred out of Locksley's office. The claims were later withdrawn.
In late September 2009, Locksley was reprimanded for an altercation with an assistant coach, in which he hit the assistant. He was subsequently suspended without pay for ten days. He was not on the sideline for the game against UNLV on October 24, 2009.
Locksley led his Lobos to 1–11 records his first and second seasons. Despite fan outcry to fire him, he returned for his third season. The high buyout was a large reason UNM chose at first not to fire him. UNM athletic director Paul Krebs, who made the decision to retain Locksley, expected improvement in the 2011 season. On September 25, 2011, Locksley was relieved of his duties following an 0-4 start that culminated in a loss at home to FCS Sam Houston State as well as the arrest of a minor for a DWI while driving Locksley's own car.
Kia is a yoga
instructor. She helped teach some members of the Fighting Illini football team yoga in the summer of 2008.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
coach. After serving as an assistant coach for several college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
squads, he became the 29th head coach of the University of New Mexico
University of New Mexico
The University of New Mexico at Albuquerque is a public research university located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the United States. It is the state's flagship research institution...
Lobos football team in 2009. Locksley was fired on September 25, 2011 after going 2–26.
Early life
Locksley grew up in inner-city Washington D.C., and attended Ballou High SchoolBallou High School
Ballou Senior High School is a public school located in Washington, D.C., United States. Ballou is a part of the District of Columbia Public Schools. The current principal is Rahman Branch...
.
College playing career
Locksley played college football at Towson UniversityTowson University
Towson University, often referred to as TU or simply Towson for short, is a public university located in Towson in Baltimore County, Maryland, U.S...
. He redshirted his first year and then spent two seasons sharing time at safety and then cornerback
Cornerback
A cornerback is a member of the defensive backfield or secondary in American and Canadian football. Cornerbacks cover receivers, to defend against pass offenses and make tackles. Other members of the defensive backfield include the safeties and occasionally linebackers. The cornerback position...
, backing up Towson veteran Bryant Hall. For the 1990 season he had 43 tackles and two interceptions at safety, after he filled in for the injured Aaron Bates. He was named the Tigers' Defensive Player of the Year for his senior season. He graduated in the spring of 1992 with a degree in marketing, but knew that he wanted to be a college coach.
Coaching career
He served as defensive backs coach and special teams coach at Towson UniversityTowson University
Towson University, often referred to as TU or simply Towson for short, is a public university located in Towson in Baltimore County, Maryland, U.S...
for the 1992 season, then defensive coordinator at Naval Academy Preparatory School
Naval Academy Preparatory School
The Naval Academy Preparatory School, or NAPS is the preparatory school for the United States Naval Academy. NAPS is located on a hill at Naval Station Newport, RI. The mission of the school is "To enhance Midshipman Candidates' moral, mental, and physical foundations to prepare them for success...
in 1993 (defensive backs) and 1994 (defensive line), was outside linebackers coach at the University of the Pacific for 1995, then spent the 1996 season coaching tight ends and split ends at Army
Maryland Terrapins football
The Maryland Terrapins football team represents the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision competition. The Terrapins compete within the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
Black Knights football
Army Black Knights football
The Army Black Knights football program represents the United States Military Academy. Army was recognized as the national champions in 1944, 1945 and 1946....
.
Locksley became the running backs coach for the University of Maryland
University of Maryland, College Park
The University of Maryland, College Park is a top-ranked public research university located in the city of College Park in Prince George's County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C...
Terrapins football
Maryland Terrapins football
The Maryland Terrapins football team represents the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision competition. The Terrapins compete within the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
under head coach Ron Vanderlinden
Ron Vanderlinden
Ron Vanderlinden is an American college football coach. He is currently the co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Penn State University. Vanderlinden previously served as the head coach at the University of Maryland from 1997 to 2000....
in February 1997. Ron Vanderlinden named Locksley to the additional post of recruiting coordinator, replacing Chris Cosh
Chris Cosh
Chris Cosh , is an American football coach and currently holds the position of defensive coordinator and assistant head coach at Kansas State University...
who left to take the defensive coordinator's job at Michigan State, in February 1998. After Vanderlinden was fired, in 2000, and Ralph Friedgen
Ralph Friedgen
Ralph Harry Friedgen is an American football coach. He was the head coach at the University of Maryland from 2001 to 2010. Friedgen was previously an offensive coordinator at Maryland, Georgia Tech, and in the National Football League with the San Diego Chargers...
was named head coach, Locksley and wide receivers coach James Franklin were the only two assistants to be retained by Maryland.
In February 2003, after six years at Maryland, he was named as running backs coach and recruiting coordinator at the University of Florida
Florida Gators football
The Florida Gators football team represents the University of Florida in the sport of American football. The Florida Gators compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletics Association and the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference...
under Ron Zook
Ron Zook
Ron Zook is a former American football coach and former player. He served as the head football coach at the University of Florida from 2002 to 2004 and at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign from 2005 to 2011. Zook is a native of Ohio and an alumnus of Miami University, where he...
, replacing Tyke Tolbert, who left to be a coach with the Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the NFL.
Locksley was named offensive coordinator at the University of Illinois
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
Fighting Illini
Illinois Fighting Illini football
The Illinois Fighting Illini are a major college football program, representing the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. They compete in NCAA Division I-A and the Big Ten Conference.-Current staff:-All-time win/loss/tie record:*563-513-51...
in January 2005, replacing Larry Fedora
Larry Fedora
-References:...
who went to Oklahoma State University
Oklahoma State Cowboys football
The Oklahoma State Cowboys football program represents Oklahoma State University–Stillwater in college football. The team is a member of the Big 12 Conference and completes at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. The Cowboys are led by Mike Gundy, who is in his seventh year as...
, pairing Locksley again with head coach Ron Zook. He is credited with luring at least nine players from the Washington D.C. area for Illinois from 2005 through 2008, including wide receiver Arrelious Benn
Arrelious Benn
-External links:**...
, 2007 Big Ten Freshman of the Year.
New Mexico
He was named head coach of the New Mexico LobosNew Mexico Lobos
The New Mexico Lobos are the athletic teams representing the University of New Mexico. The university's athletic program fields teams in 19 varsity sports. The Lobos participate in the NCAA Division I and is a charter member of the Mountain West Conference...
on December 9, 2008. He signed a six-year contract worth $750,000 annually.
In late May 2009, a former administrative assistant at New Mexico filed an age and sex discrimination complaint against Locksley with the Equal Opportunity Commission. The complaint was filed by Locksley's former administrative assistant Sylvia Lopez. Lopez claimed to have been subjected to age and sexual discrimination before being transferred out of Locksley's office. The claims were later withdrawn.
In late September 2009, Locksley was reprimanded for an altercation with an assistant coach, in which he hit the assistant. He was subsequently suspended without pay for ten days. He was not on the sideline for the game against UNLV on October 24, 2009.
Locksley led his Lobos to 1–11 records his first and second seasons. Despite fan outcry to fire him, he returned for his third season. The high buyout was a large reason UNM chose at first not to fire him. UNM athletic director Paul Krebs, who made the decision to retain Locksley, expected improvement in the 2011 season. On September 25, 2011, Locksley was relieved of his duties following an 0-4 start that culminated in a loss at home to FCS Sam Houston State as well as the arrest of a minor for a DWI while driving Locksley's own car.
Personal life
Locksley along with his wife Kia have four children, three sons, Mike, Jr., Meiko, and Kai, and a daughter, Kori.Kia is a yoga
Yoga
Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual discipline, originating in ancient India. The goal of yoga, or of the person practicing yoga, is the attainment of a state of perfect spiritual insight and tranquility while meditating on Supersoul...
instructor. She helped teach some members of the Fighting Illini football team yoga in the summer of 2008.
Head coaching record
External links
- Mike Locksley. - University of New MexicoUniversity of New MexicoThe University of New Mexico at Albuquerque is a public research university located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the United States. It is the state's flagship research institution...
Lobos football