In what could only be described as a unique past 36 hours for the Texas A&M Aggies, it appears they got their guy after all. Texas A&M has named former Duke HC Mike Elko as their next head coach, just two weeks after firing Jimbo Fisher.
The decision – reportedly made on Saturday – was announced by the school on Monday.
Mike Elko Hired As Texas A&M Head Coach
Texas A&M had some fireworks around their head coaching opening as it was largely seen as the top available position during this coaching carousel. In the end, they brought back one of their own in Elko.
The Aggies still have to pay Fisher a handsome amount of money, but financial concerns appeared not near the top of their list when they set out to make a new hire. As such, it was reported that Elko is set to become the next head coach after guiding Duke to historic success under his tutelage.
On Monday, the Aggies themselves named Elko their head coach.
One of the best leaders and coaches in college football has been named the next head football coach at Texas A&M.
Welcome back to Aggieland, @CoachMikeElko!
🔗 » https://t.co/ARPmQHOTX1 | #GigEm pic.twitter.com/x89fVDfnzw
— Texas A&M Football (@AggieFootball) November 27, 2023
Elko turned the Blue Devils into not just a basketball school and was set to turn the corner on their becoming a fixture in the ACC. Instead, Elko enters the SEC as the program’s next leading man.
Through his brief stint as a head coach, Elko has accumulated a 16-9 record during two seasons with the Blue Devils. He’s a documented defensive savant and should help the Aggies turn back the tide from a defense that gave up 185 points in conference play this season but did show some promise in 2023.
Elko’s defenses at Texas A&M consistently ranked in the top 20 of the nation as he improved every year with the Aggies from 2018 to 2021.
The past 36 hours for Texas A&M certainly were an eventual stretch for Aggie fans. Reported first was that Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops was to be named the next head coach.
However, after uproar across the Internet and from the fanbase across the country, Stoops ultimately said he had not accepted the job in a post on the social media platform X. Stoops stated it was for reasons other than uproar around the fanbase, but just like beauty is in the eye of the beholder, his remarks certainly can have their own inferences made.
Still, the Aggies had to move on their man, whether Elko was their No. 1 choice or not, and they made quick work on Sunday to ensure they brought him back to College Station.
Mike Elko Coaching Resume
- Stony Brook – GA/ILB Coach (1999)
- Penn – DB Coach (2000)
- Merchant Marine – DC/DB Coach (2001)
- Fordham – Co-DC/LB Coach (2002-2003)
- Richmond – LB/RC Coach (2004-2005)
- Hofstra – AHC/CB/DB/LB Coach (2006-2008)
- Bowling Green – DC/LB Coach (2009-2013)
- Wake Forest – DC/S Coach (2014-2016)
- Notre Dame – DC (2017)
- Texas A&M – DC/S Coach (2018-2021)
- Duke – Head Coach (2022-2023)