Maryland Basketball: 2021-22 season preview and outlook for Terrapins

The coaching staff for 2021-22 season

Normally, talking about coaching is something that often doesn’t get alot of discussion unless it is a new head coach taking over a program or leaving a program. I think for the 2021 – 2022 Maryland basketball program coaching certainly needs to be discussed as not only did the university administration but its faith in Coach Mark Turgeon, but Turgeon also had to make a couple of key hires, which I think will be keys to the success of the program going forward.

First, let’s talk about the man that will lead the Terps program this year and for the next for seeable future. There are alot of rumors during the off-season about Turgeon maybe leaving College Park because things were going as planned. If you are a Terp’s fan I know that you heard the rumblings as well, but in the case of the open North Carolina head coach position is was retiring head coach Roy Williams who mentioned Turgeon by name. We also saw Oklahoma had the Maryland head coach high on its wish list.

I like Turge, he has done some great things, he also has done some things that make you wonder. But, I have always said, if you don’t have the confidence of the administration, how can you effectively coach and recruit.

Well, that was all put to rest by the Maryland athletic director Damon Evans and the University of Maryland administration as this past April, Coach Turgeon agreed to a contract extension that would keep in College Park through 2025 – 2026 season. Turgeon has guided Maryland to a 221-113 (.662) record in 10 seasons as head coach, leading the Terrapins to five top-5 finishes in the Big Ten Conference in seven seasons and the 2020 Big Ten Championship.

As a Maryland fan, I am glad that there is no doubt who will be leading the program for many years to come. This not only helps add stability to the program but also helps in recruiting and to continue what has been started. It is a good thing that Turge was extended because right after the accountment, Turgeon would be faced with overhauling the coaching staff as two key coaches leave College Park.

Turgeon did not have alot of time to enjoy this contract extension, as he would immediately have to get to work as two key members of the coaching staff announced they were leaving the program. Assistant coaches Deandre Haynes and one of the more beloved assistants Bino Ranson both decided to move on, as Haynes joined the new staff at Marquette and Ranson joined the coaching staff at DePaul. Ranson was a great recruiter in the DMV and had alot of ties to the area and Haynes is a head coach in the making.

The first new assistant coach is DMV native Bruce Shingler, who was born and raised in Prince Georges County Maryland.  Shingler was an assistant at Towson (2012-16) and spent one season as an assistant coach with Morgan State. Being born and raised in the DMV, Shingler knows the area well and also has alot of ties to the area as well. Most recently he was an assistant coach for the last five seasons with South Carolina in the SEC.

During the announcement of the hiring Shingler was quoted as saying;

"“On a personal note, Maryland is home. I grew up a Terp attending games at Cole Field House. My mother lived right across the street from campus. My wife, Lauren, went to St. John’s College High School. We can’t wait to get to campus and hit the ground running”."

Coach Shingler checks all the boxes that Maryland was looking for in a coach.

The second new assistant who will be “Manning” on the bench this season is former Kansas All-American and Turgeon teammate Danny Manning. Manning in most circles as one of the greatest big men ever to play college basketball. He had a career like no other in college basketball, where he was a two-time All-American, won most individual awards including player of the year honors, as well as helping Kansas to a national championship in 1988.

Coach Manning spent the last year as an analyst for ESPN, and was previously the head coach at both Wake Forest (2014-20) and Tulsa (2012-14). He was also an assistant coach at Kansas (2006-12), where he helped the Jayhawks capture the 2008 NCAA Championship. Coach Manning has earned a reputation as one of the best coaches of big men in the country.

The latest example of his expertise with post players was John Collins, who in two seasons with the Demon Deacons went from ranked outside the top 100 in his high school class in 2015 to the No. 19 selection in the 2017 NBA Draft.

During the announcement, Maryland head coach Mark Turgeon was quoted as saying;

"“I’ve known Danny for a long time going back to our days as teammates at Kansas and I cannot say enough about him as a coach and as a human being. He has seen it all in the game of basketball and will bring unparalleled experience to our program. Danny has history recruiting in the DMV region and has many ties locally, as well as nationally. I am excited for him to get to College Park and meet the tremendous guys in our locker room.”"

There is no question that this is a huge addition to the Terp’s program and the impact of this hiring will be felt for many years to come.