Hogan calls on UMD to reconsider Jordan McNair probe decision

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan has called upon the board of regents to reconsider its conclusions the day after it announced recommending that football coach D.J. Durkin and athletic director Damon Evans be restored to their positions in the wake of separate investigations into the death of football player Jordan McNair and the culture of the football program.

"I am deeply troubled by the lack of transparency from the Board of Regents, and deeply concerned about how they could have possibly arrived at the decisions announced yesterday," Hogan's office said in a statement.

University President William Loh also announced Tuesday that he intends to retire next year.

Durkin was placed on administrative leave in August after offensive lineman Jordan McNair collapsed during practice and subsequently died of heat stroke. The incident spawned the probe of the football program after reports of bullying allegations by the coaching staff.

Hogan continued in his statement:

"I share the concerns of many Marylanders and believe very strongly that more must be done to restore the public trust. I am calling on both the University System of Maryland Board of Regents and President Wallace Loh to reconsider their decisions and to schedule a public hearing to address these issues in an open and transparent manner.

"While the university system is required by law to operate independent of political influence, and as such no governor has the ability to hire or fire any university personnel or members of the Board of Regents, I can and will demand that the university is held accountable for making the reforms they have pledged to put in place with the full transparency that the students, parents, and faculty expect and deserve.

"The University System of Maryland has let down the University of Maryland community and the citizens of Maryland, and now is the time to fix it."

On Wednesday evening, Loh announced the firing of Durkin.