Texas A&M to hire Duke’s Mike Elko as head coach, sources say
By Bruce Feldman, Nicole Auerbach, and Sam Khan Jr.
Texas A&M is expected to hire Duke’s Mike Elko as its next head coach, sources briefed on the hiring process told The Athletic. Here’s what you need to know:
Elko is 16-9 in two seasons as Duke’s head coach and spent 2018-21 as Texas A&M’s defensive coordinator.
The Aggies fired head coach Jimbo Fisher amid a 7-5 campaign that included seven consecutive losses in games decided by one score and a nine-game road losing streak.
Elko had also been linked to the Michigan State vacancy until last weekend, when he informed Duke that he intended to stay, two sources briefed on the decision told The Athletic. But if the A&M brass was serious about Elko, sources expected him to be receptive.
From the beginning of this search, Elko stood out as one of the most sensible candidates on the board. He spent four years as the Aggies’ defensive coordinator and fielded consistently good defenses there. He built a reputation as a no-nonsense coach on the field and a personable one off of it who related well to players and recruits.
Elko is a sharp mind with a varied background, with assistant coach stints in the FCS, the MAC and the ACC as well as a season at Notre Dame before joining A&M. He has succeeded everywhere he has been.
The move provides the Aggies with a proven leader with a strong track record of success and experience with the program. Fans and players alike are eager to see what Elko will bring to the team in the upcoming season.