Texas A&M Aggies Offensive Line Coach Steve Addazio Not Being Retained Under Mike Elko

A&M's offensive line allowed over 75 pressures and 56 sacks in two season under Steve Addazio.

New Texas A&M coach Mike Elko won't retain offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino and receivers coach Dameyune Craig following a 7-5 finish in 2023. Add two more coaches who won't be back in 2024.

According to the Bryan-College Station Eagle, offensive line coach Steve Addazio and offensive analyst Louie Addazio will not return next season as part of Elko's new staff. All four coaches will not coach in A&M's bowl game next month. 

Addazio was brought in following the 2021 season after Josh Henson left the program to become USC's offensive coordinator/offensive line coach under Lincoln Riley. From the jump, the former Temple, Boston College and Colorado State head coach bore the brunt of criticism from fans due to the lackluster production in pass protection. 

Last fall, A&M's offensive line allowed 44 quarterback hits, the most among Power 5 programs, and 28 sacks. A year later, the unit slightly improved but still struggled, allowing 32 quarterback hits, fourth-most in the country, along with 28 sacks. 

Texas A&M quarterback Max Johnson (14) is yelled to by Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher during a football game between Tennessee and Texas A&M at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn., on Saturday :: Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel-USA TODAY NETWORK

Countless players rotated in the five-man front under Addazio's watch. Bryce Foster and Reuben Fatheree, two former freshman All-Americans who looked promising in Year 1, suffered injuries over the previous two years. Other players rotated in due to regression in play style. 

Elko, who went 16-9 during his two seasons at Duke, could look to bring Adam Cushing over from Durham after the Blue Devils' success in trench play. In 2021, Duke allowed 17 sacks, the 26th-fewest in the country. A year later, the Blue Devils reduced that number to 15, the 20th-fewest among FBS teams. 

Petrino, whose offense finished 25th nationally in scoring, elected to leave on his own accord after being hired at Arkansas for the same position. Craig, a former quarterback under former Aggies Jimbo Fisher at Auburn, spent six seasons serving as the Aggies' receivers and quarterbacks coach. 

Texas A&M WR Coach Dameyune Craig Will Not Return Under Mike Elko

Interim coach Elijah Robinson will remain on staff through at least the Aggies' bowl game next month. Elko told reporters Monday that retaining Robinson as part of his staff in 2024 was a "priority."