COLLEGE STATION, TX — After much back-and-forth in the coaching carousel over the weekend, the Texas A&M Football team finally landed on a new head coach. Aggies’ Athletic Director Ross Bjork announced on Monday, November 27, that A&M officially hired Duke Head Coach Mike Elko. Elko will replace Jimbo Fisher to lead the Aggies’ program into the future.
Elko was formerly the defensive coordinator for Texas A&M, but he left to take the Duke job two years ago. He helped the Aggies achieve a 9-1 season back in 2020 when A&M made it to the Orange Bowl. The Aggies defeated North Carolina 41-27 in that matchup and finished 2020 ranked No. 5 in the nation.
Texas A&M Hires Duke Head Coach Mike Elko
(Credit: Duke University)
When Elko left A&M, he inherited a 3-9 Duke team. Within one season, he turned the program around, finishing 9-4. Elko had a 16-9 overall record with the Blue Devils. Bjork commented on Elko’s coaching ability when he announced the hire.
"Coach Mike Elko is one of the best leaders and coaches in college football and has had high-level success at each stop of his career," Bjork said. "He is known amongst coaching circles as one of the best defensive minds in the country and has shown his ability to lead and turn around a program as a Power 5 head coach."
Texas A&M decided it needed a change after the Aggies posted a 12-12 record over the last two seasons. $76 is a pricey buyout for a high-profile coach like Jimbo Fisher, but that’s the route A&M felt it had to take. The Aggies regularly finish recruiting season with a Top 5 recruiting class but never seem to develop those players into dominance on the field. A&M hasn’t won a conference title since 1998 and has not even competed conference in the title game since the Aggies joined the SEC back in 2012.
The students, alumni, and, most importantly, donors hope Elko will be the one to lead the Aggies to College Football’s promised land.
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