Maryland head football coach Mike Locksley has joined the $6 million club.

The 53-year-old Locksley agreed to a contract extension a year ago, which automatically extended by a year after the Terrapins won at least seven games in 2022 (they finished 8-5). More notably according to reports by Sports Illustrated and the Baltimore Sun, he also gets a significant raise to $6.1 million after being initially set to make $4 million in 2023.

“Coach Locksley has done an amazing job revitalizing our football program,” Maryland athletics director Damon Evans said. “We have won bowl games in each of the last two years, something that hadn’t been done at Maryland in nearly 20 years.

“Coach Locks continues to grow our program, both on and off the field, in developing impressive young men. As we continue to make significant strides with higher expectations, we are excited he will be leading our program into the future as ‘The Best Is Ahead’ for Maryland football.”

Locksley is 20-23 in four years at Maryland, though he has recorded back-to-back winning seasons and bowl victories. The Terrapins’ 8-5 finish last season was their best since the 2010 team went 9-4.

Prior to returning to Maryland in 2019, Locksley was Alabama’s co-offensive coordinator in 2017 and offensive coordinator in 2018. The Crimson Tide won a national championship in the first year and played for another in the second.

“I’m grateful for the belief that President (Darryl J.) Pines, Damon Evans and the entire administration has shown in me, and the support they are providing to enhance what we’re building here with the Maryland football program,” Locksley said. “We are developing young men to be outstanding leaders both on and off the field, and our goal is to compete for championships in the very near future.

“I have more passion and energy for this job than the day I was hired and I can’t wait to continue to build a team and brand of football that our fans, alumni and entire university can be proud of.”

Locksley is one of 14 former Nick Saban assistants or staffers who are currently FBS head coaches, along with Georgia’s Kirby Smart, Florida’s Billy Napier, Texas A&M’s Jimbo Fisher, Ole Miss’ Lane Kiffin, Texas’ Steve Sarkisian, Georgia Tech’s Brent Key, Miami’s Mario Cristobal, Michigan State’s Mel Tucker, Oregon’s Dan Lanning, James Madison’s Curt Cignetti, Arkansas State’s Butch Jones, Marshall’s Charles Huff, Central Michigan’s Jim McElwain and Western Michigan’s Lance Taylor.