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Former Maryland Head Coach D.J. Durkin Hired as Ole Miss Assistant

New Ole Miss head football coach Lane Kiffin has hired former Maryland head coach D.J. Durkin as an assistant, the school announced.

According to Pete Thamel of Yahoo Sports, the hiring was cleared "well beyond" Kiffin with the Ole Miss athletic administration and campus officials signing off on it after an "extensive" background check was conducted.

Durkin was placed on administrative leave at Maryland in August 2018 following the death of offensive lineman Jordan McNair due to heatstroke after a May 2018 workout. Durkin was also alleged to have instilled a "toxic culture" within the Maryland football program.