One investigation found that Maryland’s football program “fostered a culture where problems festered because too many players feared speaking out.”

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The University of Maryland on Wednesday evening announced that it would “part ways” with embattled football coach DJ Durkin.

19-year-old offensive lineman Jordan McNair suffered from heat stroke at practice on May 29 and died in the hospital two weeks later on June 13. The football program Durkin headed was the subject of two investigations following McNair’s death. One investigation found that the football program “fostered a culture where problems festered because too many players feared speaking out.”

In a letter sent out Wednesday evening university president Wallace Loh, who will retire in 2019, said the departure is “in the best interest of the University.”

The decision comes just one day after the university’s Board of Regents decided not to take any major personnel actions related to the school’s football program after McNair’s death. The board recommended that Durkin and athletic director Damon Evans should keep their positions. Durkin had been on paid administrative leave since Aug. 11.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan and his opponent Ben Jealous expressed concern about the decision. A scathing column in the Washington Post on Wednesday called the school and its football program “a canker sore with a couple of dormitories.”

Maryland football players reacted to the news of Durkin’s firing, with linebacker Tre Watson tweeting “pressure busts pipes doesn’t it?”

This story was originally published on WAMU.

Filed Under: dj dirkin, university of maryland,