What Maryland's Mike Locksley said at his introductory press conference

Maryland football is getting a fresh start in 2019.

The Terrapins needed it. After what was a tumultuous 2018, to say the least, new leadership was needed. Maryland found that in former Alabama offensive coordinator Mike Locksley.

The Terrapins named Locksley their head coach on Tuesday. Locksley was a head coach previously at New Mexico from 2009-11 and compiled a 2-26 record there. He was also named interim head coach at Maryland back in 2015, going 1-5 during his 6 games coaching the Terrapins. He was also the Terps’ RBs coach from 1997-2002.

From 2012-15, Locksley was with the Terrapins as the team’s offensive coordinator and QB coach. Now, he’s in charge of the program.

Locksley’s introductory press conference was held on Thursday, and here’s what he had to say:

Locksley as he takes the stage: "Boy, it sure feels good to be home, man."

Calls it a "dream come true."

— Josh Stirn (@Josh_Stirn) December 6, 2018

Locksley thanks Matt Canada for "the great job he did keeping this thing together."

He also singled out his "good friend" Marty McNair. Their kids went to school together, they've helped each other deal with losing a child.

— Josh Stirn (@Josh_Stirn) December 6, 2018

“I’m not here to just build a winning football team,” Locksley said. “I’m here to build a winning football family.”

Locks: "I gotta thank coach Saban. I just spent three yrs in my 28 yrs coaching under a guy that I feel is the greatest coach in the history of college football, if not football alone. And I just spent three years saturating in winning and seeing what it's like to be done right."

— Jeff Ermann (@Jeff_Ermann) December 6, 2018

Locksley said he wasn't good enough to play at Maryland so "I settled for being a Towson Tiger."

— Josh Stirn (@Josh_Stirn) December 6, 2018

Locksley remembers watching Terps beat Texas from his hotel room this year. "I'm not walking into a bare cupboard."

— Josh Stirn (@Josh_Stirn) December 6, 2018

Locksley: "We're going to work our tails off to keep [the local talent] here."

— Josh Stirn (@Josh_Stirn) December 6, 2018

Locksley said he plans to be at Maryland until next Wednesday or Thursday before heading back to Alabama. Said he'll work on Oklahoma during the day and then put his Terp hat on at night and get started with recruiting.

— Josh Stirn (@Josh_Stirn) December 6, 2018

Locksley: "I'm so far removed from that New Mexico experience … I just spent three years saturated in winning under Nick Saban with the Alabama program."

— Josh Stirn (@Josh_Stirn) December 6, 2018

Evans said he had an "extended conversation" with Locksley about his first head coaching stint. "I could not be more proud than to have him sitting next to me on this stage."

— Josh Stirn (@Josh_Stirn) December 6, 2018

Locksey said the biggest thing he's learned from Saban is "focus on the process, not the results … There's nobody that works harder than coach Saban."

— Josh Stirn (@Josh_Stirn) December 6, 2018

Locksley said there was nothing that could stop him from wanting this job, other than confirming that all the right pieces were in place. Felt comfortable after talking to Loh and Evans.

— Josh Stirn (@Josh_Stirn) December 6, 2018

Locksley said he's going to "take his time" with putting together a staff. Plans to meet with candidates in the next few days. Already has some names in mind.

— Josh Stirn (@Josh_Stirn) December 6, 2018