Texas A&M's Elko named head coach at Duke
Texas A&M defensive coordinator Mike Elko has been named Duke's next head coach, the school announced Friday.
"We are absolutely thrilled to announce Mike Elko as our next head football coach," athletic director Nina King said. "He has an innovative football mind and a natural ability to connect with both players and coaches around him. Mike has a proven track record of success and is deeply committed to the overall student-athlete experience."
Elko has been with the Aggies since 2018. The 44-year-old, who has no previous head coaching experience, served as defensive coordinator for Bowling Green (2009-13), Wake Forest (2014-16), and Notre Dame (2017).
The Blue Devils began looking for a new head coach since parting ways with David Cutcliffe last month. The school reportedly considered several candidates for the vacancy, including former Dallas Cowboys sideline boss Jason Garrett and former Clemson offensive coordinator Tony Elliott, who agreed to join Virginia on Friday.
"Duke stands for excellence," Elko said in a statement. "The university has excelled in everything they've ever tried to do, whether that'd be in academics or athletics. I'm excited to get to work."
The Blue Devils lost their final eight games of the season, finishing 2021 with a 3-9 record. The school hasn't posted a winning campaign since going 8-5 in 2018.
Under Elko's leadership, Texas A&M's defense finished the 2021 regular season as the third-best in the nation in scoring, allowing just 15.9 points per game. The team also recorded 39 sacks, the 12th-best mark in college football.
The Aggies, who went 8-4 this year, will finish out their campaign in the Gator Bowl on Dec. 31 against Wake Forest.