Former Maryland head coach D.J. Durkin has joined the coaching staff at Ole Miss to work as an assistant under Lane Kiffin.

The school announced the hiring Thursday, naming Durkin, Chris Partridge and Joe Jon Finley as assistant coaches. The school did not specify what role Durkin will fill.

Durkin was fired at Maryland in October 2018 after being on extensive leave during an investigation into the death of Terrapins player Jordan McNair earlier that year. The investigation also focused on the culture of Maryland's program during Durkin's tenure.

McNair died on June 13, 2018, of heatstroke suffered two weeks earlier in a team workout, and Durkin was placed on leave on Aug. 11, 2018. After Maryland conducted investigations into both the workout and the culture of Durkin's program, the coach was reinstated by the board of regents on Oct. 30, then, in the face of criticism of the decision, was fired the next day by school president Wallace Loh.

"We received consistently strong feedback about Coach Durkin's strong character and work ethic and his positive impact on the communities and institutions where he was previously employed," Ole Miss athletic director Keith Carter said in a statement. "Once we had the chance to spend time with Coach Durkin, we were even more convinced that he is exactly the type of accomplished coach with strong football credentials who is also a proud and committed family man that will make him a great addition to our new staff."

Durkin brings 14 years of coaching experience to Ole Miss, including his three seasons at Maryland. He was the defensive coordinator/linebackers coach for Michigan in 2015, when the Wolverines' defense allowed only 16.4 points per game (sixth in the FBS). He also coached five seasons at Florida.

This past July, Atlanta Falcons head coach Dan Quinn invited Durkin to help as a guest assistant at training camp.