Bradford named Terps' defensive coordinator

The Terrapin football team yesterday named Todd Bradford as its defensive coordinator, completing new coach Randy Edsall's staff.

Bradford had initially joined the Terps' staff as an inside linebackers coach last month, and his promotion fills the position vacated by former coordinator Don Brown, who left for the same position at Connecticut on Feb. 4.

"I'm pleased to name Todd Bradford as our defensive coordinator and secondary coach," Edsall said in a release. "He will lead an aggressive, attacking and fundamentally sound defense that will work to cause turnovers and create disruption for opposing offenses. He brings great experience and knowledge to the position and has been successful throughout his career."

The hiring comes a day after a report in The Baltimore Sun that former Miami coach Randy Shannon had turned down an offer for the position because it would have cost him about $1.5 million in buyout money. The two sides reportedly were close to an agreement last week.

The Patriot-News of Harrisburg, Pa., also reported yesterday that Penn State defensive line coach Larry Johnson had turned down the chance to interview for the job in recent days.

Bradford spent the past three years as Southern Miss's defensive coordinator and secondary coach. Under Bradford last year, the Golden Eagles struggled defensively, finishing No. 81 nationally in points allowed despite a top-15 rushing defense. Opponents also scored on 91 percent of their trips to the red zone, an unusually high mark.

Bradford previously coached at Lehigh and Louisiana Tech and also served as the co-offensive coordinator at Brigham Young.

"We've assembled a strong, solid staff in terms of on-the-field coaching and recruiting," Edsall said. "Now we're looking forward to getting into the nuts and bolts of coaching in order to get ready for spring practice, as well as continuing to recruit the best student-athletes."

The Terps also announced the addition of linebackers coach Keith Dudzinski to their staff yesterday. Dudzinski previously had served as Massachusetts' defensive coordinator, working for five years under Brown while he coached the Minutemen.

schneider@umdbk.com