By JOHN WILKERSON
FOXSportsSouth.com
December 20, 2010
The tenure of Ralph Friedgen, who turned around Maryland's program this year, has officially come to an end.
Maryland athletic director Kevin Anderson officially announced today during a news conference what had been no secret: that Friedgen, 63, has taken a $2 million buyout to cover the final year of his contract and no longer will be the head coach of the Terrapins.
The buyout comes after Maryland posted a 8-4 record and accepted an invitation to the Military Bowl. It also comes just one year after a two-win season in 2009. Friedgen, who has compiled a 74-50 record in 10 seasons as Terrapins head coach, will coach the team in the bowl game against East Carolina on Dec. 29 in Washington, D.C.
Anderson said the tipping point came last week when offensive coordinator James Franklin left to become the head coach at Vanderbilt.
Neither Anderson nor Friedgen felt a lame-duck final season in 2011 was in the best interest of either party, but giving Friedgen a contract extension and bringing in a new coaching staff wasn
