Texas A&M Aggies Set To Hire Duke Blue Devils Mike Elko As Jimbo Fisher Replacement
On Saturday evening, it was reported that Texas A&M would hire Jimbo Fisher's former defensive coordinator at Florida State and current Kentucky coach Mark Stoops.
A day later, the Aggies called another former Fisher defensive coordinator to return back to College Station.
This, however, is planning on sticking around.
A&M is finalizing a deal with Duke's Mike Elko to name him the program's 30th head coach, a source confirmed with AllAggies.com. Elko just finished his second season with the Blue Devils, going 7-5 despite missing starting quarterback Riley Leonard for most of the regular season.
A source confirmed that Elko has informed Duke he intends to take the job. An announcement is expected to be made by the university within the next 24 hours. Elko also is expected to retain interim coach Elijah Robinson as a member of the defensive staff, potentially even a full-time defensive coordinator.
Elko, 46, went 16-9 during his two seasons in Durham, showing drastic improvements in every stage of the game. Before Elko arrived, Duke was 10-25 in its final three seasons under David Cutcliffe. His five-win turnaround in Year 1 marked the second biggest year-over-year turnaround in ACC history.
Duke Blue Devils head coach Mike Elko before the first half of the game against North Carolina State Wolfpack at Wallace Wade Stadium.
Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-USA TODAY Sports
The Blue Devils made headlines following their 28-7 upset win over No. 9 Clemson in Week 1. Duke started off 4-0, jumping into the AP Poll and going as high as No. 17. While regression set in following Leonard's injury, the Blue Devils still were physical and scrappy, forcing one-score games against No. 11 Notre Dame and No. 24 North Carolina.
Last season, Elko led Duke to its first nine-win season since 2014 and was named ACC Coach of the Year. Duke defeated Central Florida 30-13 in the Miltary Bowl and finished just outside the top 25 of the AP Poll.
Under Elko, Duke's defense saw massive improvements. The Blue Devils went from 127th to 31st in scoring defense. They jumped from 130th in total yards allowed to 67th and 115th in run defense to 25th.
A defensive guru, Elko also oversaw an impeccable offensive uptick in two seasons. Duke went from 101st to 32nd in scoring, averaging 32.8 points per game. This past season, the Blue Devils averaged 27.5 points without Leonard under center.
Prior to his arrival in the ACC, Elko spent four seasons as A&M's defensive coordinator. His physical, no-nonsense coaching style helped transform the Aggies into one of the SEC's most consistent units in the country.
In four seasons, A&M's run defense ranked inside the top 10 in run defense. In 2021, the Aggies ranked third nationally in scoring, holding opponents to 15.9 points per contest. A&M also ranked top-15 in total yards, third-down conversion success rate and pass defense.
In 2020, A&M finished second in run defense. Serving as the backbone en route to a 9-1 year, Elko's unit helped the Aggies secure an Orange Bowl win over North Carolina and a top-five finish in the AP Poll.
The Aggies went 34-14 with Elko at the defensive helm. Following Elko's departure, A&M went 12-12 in two years. Fisher, who signed a contract extension worth over $9 million a season in 2021, was fired following a 51-10 win over Misssippi State earlier this month.
A&M initially had targeted Stoops to replace Fisher. At the time, Elko had reportedly said he planned on staying in Durham for another season. Meanwhile, Stoops reportedly had been telling those in Lexington he'd be leaving for College Station.
Backlash and a swarm of negative comments came flying in through social media on the Stoops news, thus leading to a change in direction for the position. Stoops later confirmed on "X" that he would be staying as the Wildcats' head coach.
According to multiple sources, Elko emerged as the favorite late Saturday night following the Stoops' fiasco, and conversations heated up early Sunday morning. Players rallied around Robinson to be considered for the opening full-time following the 42-30 loss in the season finale against No. 14 LSU.
A native of South Brunswick, New Jersey, Elko started at safety for the University of Penn, helping the Quakers win the Ivy League title in 1998. Following his playing career, Elko immediately found his way into coaching.
Before he arrived at Texas A&M, Elko served as defensive coordinator at Bowling Green, Wake Forest and Notre Dame. During his time at Winston-Salem, Elko led the Demon Deacons to two top-50 defenses, including a top-25 ranking in 2016.
At Notre Dame, the Irish ranked in the top 50 in total yards, scoring, and third-down conversion rate. A year later, he headed off to College Station.
Elko's return to College Station should do wonders for morale inside the locker room. Retaining Robinson will only help the program keep as many names looking to leave through the transfer portal back on campus as possible. Combined, the two should be able to have the Aggies ready to compete for a shot at the SEC title in 2024 and potentially even a spot in the College Football Playoff.
With more resources, a state-of-the-art athletic facility, and the backing of boosters, Elko will have a chance to turn the Aggies into a longtime contender. Athletic director Ross Bjork mentioned the program needed to find its next R.C. Slocum.
The hope is that Elko fits the bill for the long haul. It begins when A&M takes on Notre Dame on August 31st at Kyle Field.
