Matt Johnson
The Duke Blue Devils are hiring Mike Elko as their new head coach, reportedly finalizing a contract with the Texas A&M defensive coordinator to name him as David Cutcliffe’s replacement.
Coming off a 3-9 season, the Blue Devils parted ways with Cutcliffe after 14 seasons. On Friday, reports emerged that former Dallas Cowboys head coach and New York Giants offensive coordinator Jason Garrett was a leading candidate for the Blue Devils. But things have seemingly changed.
According to Yahoo Sports’ Pete Thamel, Elko and Duke are in the final stages on a multi-year contract to make him the head coach for the 2022 season and beyond.
One of the most respected minds in college football, Elko will become a head coach for the first time in his career.
Mike Elko background
The 44-year-old began his coaching career at Stony Brook in 1999, following his playing career at the University of Pennsylvania. After serving as the Seawolves’ inside linebackers coach and a graduate assistant, Elko returned to his alma mater to coach their defensive backs in 2000.
He then served as the defensive coordinator for the United States Merchant Marine Academy, a Division III military program. After one season, Elko landed a position at Fordham as linebackers coach and co-defensive coordinator.
Elko continued to climb the coaching ladder, serving as Richmond’s linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator (2004-’05), then becoming a defensive coordinator and assistant head coach at Hofstra (2006-’08). He jumped to Bowling Green (2009-’13) and worked under Dave Clawson at Wake Forest as the defensive coordinator (2014-’16). Notre Dame hired him as defensive coordinator in 2017 and he was scooped up by Jimbo Fisher a year later.
As Notre Dame’s DC in 2017, the Fighting Irish, held opponents under 370 total yards per game and surrendered a 34.62% conversion rate on third downs. He took over an Aggies unit that needed some work and has turned it into one of the best defenses in college football.
Texas A&M allowed the eighth-fewest points per game (17.1), ranked top-30 in total yards allowed (343.7 per game) and the Aggies surrendered the 10th-lowest conversion rate on third downs (32.54%).
While Elko will certainly have his work cut out for him at Duke, his success coordinator defenses, developing young players and in recruiting should help him make the Blue Devils a respectable program.
