If Maryland football's new offensive coordinator thrives this fall and the Terps take off with an emerging Malik Washington under center and an improved running game, the boost will have come at a fraction of the cost of his predecessor. First-year coordinator Clint Trickett will earn about a million dollars during his two-year contract, obtained by InsideMDSports via an open records request.
Hired away from Arkansas in February, signed a two-year, $950,000 contract running from Feb. 23, 2026 through Jan. 31, 2028. His deal starts at a $450,000 annual base salary before increasing to $500,000 in February of 2027.Hamilton, who was shifted from playcaller to Locksley's senior advisor to make way for Trickett, is in the second year of three-year agreement worth $3.75 million.
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Hamilton arrived in College Park before last season -- replacing Josh Gattis, fired by Locksley the previous season -- with NFL credentials including previous stints with the Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts and Chicago Bears. He also helped develop Los Angeles Chargers star quarterback Justin Herbert early in his NFL career. But his offense's failures contributed to an ugly string of losses during which Maryland led in the fourth quarter last season. Not coincidentally, the running game stalled, ranking 17th in the 18-team Big Ten in rushing yards per game (103.4).
Trickett, 35, arrives as one of the youngest offensive coordinators in the Big Ten. Arkansas hired him to be its quarterbacks coach before Locksley gave him his first shot at being a Power Conference coordinator. If he can breathe new life into Maryland's offense to complement a defense that should be one its best in recent years, the Terps could surprise next season and his profile would climb. That wouldn't be a bad thing for Locksley. It's a buy-low gamble by the coach facing a make-or-break season.
Last year, Trickett's lone season as Jacksonville State's coordinator, their offense averaged more than 408 yards per game, ranking third in Conference USA, and produced a dominant rushing attack that ranked among the top five nationally at nearly 247 yards a game.
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Trickett's incentives are capped annually at $270,000 in year one and $300,000 in year two. He can earn bonuses for reaching the Big Ten championship game, qualifying for the College Football Playoff and advancing through postseason play. But Maryland also included language preventing any bonus payouts if the Terps finish the regular season with a losing record, even if they still qualify for a bowl game at 5-7.
The contract also includes a $29,000 relocation allowance, 14 days of temporary housing assistance and a $500 monthly automobile stipend. Maryland also agreed to pay $119,332.63 in contract termination expenses owed to Arkansas as part of bringing him to College Park. In the unlikely event Trickett were to leave Maryland on or before Oct. 15 of this year, he would owe the university 200 percent of his annual base salary or $900,000. If he departs after that date but before the completion of the 2027 season, he'll owe 25 percent of his annual base salary for that year.
More from InsideMDSports' earlier reporting on Trickett:
Trickett spent two seasons running the offense at Marshall, where his units notched a marquee road win at Notre Dame and later beat Virginia Tech in the Frisco Bowl. His offenses were fueled by a strong ground game and helped develop multiple all-conference quarterbacks and receivers.
His résumé also includes time at Florida Atlantic under Lane Kiffin, where he coached Mackey Award winner Harrison Bryant, and at Georgia Southern as tight ends coach and pass game coordinator. Trickett began his coaching career at East Mississippi Community College, the junior college powerhouse featured on Last Chance U.
As a player, Trickett began his college career at Florida State before transferring to West Virginia, where he thrived in Dana Holgorsen's Air Raid system. As a fifth-year senior in 2014, he threw for 3,285 yards and 18 touchdowns, earning Davey O'Brien Award semifinalist honors before medically retiring following multiple concussions.
Football runs in the family. His father, Rick Trickett, spent decades as a respected offensive line coach with stops at West Virginia, LSU, Auburn and Florida State. Clint grew up immersed in the profession, and his rapid rise through the coaching ranks reflects that foundation.
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