It's official.
On Monday, Texas A&M athletic director Ross Bjork announced Duke's Mike Elko as the Aggies' new head football coach.
One of the best leaders and coaches in college football has been named the next head football coach at Texas A&M.
— Texas A&M Football (@AggieFootball) November 27, 2023
Welcome back to Aggieland, @CoachMikeElko!
https://t.co/ARPmQHOTX1 | #GigEm pic.twitter.com/x89fVDfnzw
Elko, a former Texas A&M defensive coordinator who left College Station to become Duke's head coach in 2021, led the Aggies' defense in Texas A&M's most recent successful season: A 9-1 campaign in 2020 that culminated with a 41-27 win over North Carolina in the Orange Bowl.
In a Texas A&M press release, Bjork praised Elko's "vision for Aggie football. He also wrote that the new coach impressed the Texas A&M athletic department with a comprehensive plan for "innovation and greatness" at the university.
"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," the statement read. "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.
"We are fortunate to attract a head coach of his character, coaching acumen, recruiting experience in the SEC, winning formula, ability to develop players to their full potential and a love and familiarity with Aggieland and our university, which makes him a perfect match. We are excited to welcome Coach Elko and his family back to Aggieland, and we cannot wait to get started."
At Duke, Elko proved himself as a head coach. The Blue Devils had a combined 10-25 record in the 2019, 2020 and 2021 seasons before Elko elevated Duke to a 9-4 team in 2022 that was capped off with a 30-13 win over UCF in the Military Bowl.
This season, Elko established himself as a candidate for a higher-profile job when Duke opened the season with a 28-7 win at then-No. 9 Clemson. The Blue Devils began the season 4-0 before losing to then-No. 11 Notre Dame, a game in which Duke quarterback Riley Leonard suffered a significant ailment. From there, Duke's season changed. The team finished 7-5, but the Blue Devils will go to a bowl game for the second consecutive season.
