Mike Elko

• 1999: Stony Brook — Graduate assistant
• 2000: Penn — Defensive backs coach
• 2001: Merchant Marine — Defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach
• 2002-03: Fordham — Co-Defensive coordinator and linebackers coach
• 2004-05: Richmond — Special teams coordinator and linebackers coach
• 2006: Hofstra — Defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach
• 2007: Hofstra — Defensive coordinator and linebackers coach
• 2008: Hofstra — Associate head coach, defensive coordinator and linebackers coach
• 2009-13: Bowling Green — Defensive coordinator and linebackers coach
• 2014-16: Wake Forest — Defensive coordinator and safeties coach
• 2017: Notre Dame — Defensive coordinator 
• 2018-21: Texas A&M — Defensive coordinator and safeties coach
• 2022-23: Duke — Head coach
• 2024-Present: Texas A&M — Head coach

Mike Elko Coaching History

Texas A&M hired Mike Elko as its head coach on Nov. 27, 2023. 

Elko was brought in to replace Jimbo Fisher, who exited College Station after a 6-4 start to the 2023 campaign. Fisher spent just under 6 seasons at Texas A&M and departed with an overall record of 45-25. 

Elko was a familiar name for Texas A&M fans when he was hired ahead of the 2024 season. He previously served as Texas A&M’s defensive coordinator from 2018-21, which were the best years (by winning percentage) of the Fisher era in College Station. 

Elko is originally from the northeast. He was born in South Brunswick, New Jersey, and played safety at the collegiate level for Penn. His first on-field coaching position came at his alma mater back in 2000 when he was the defensive backs coach for the Quakers. 

Elko broke into the FBS level in 2009 when he became the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Bowling Green. From there, he moved up the college football ranks and spent time as a coordinator at Wake Forest (2014-16), Notre Dame (2017) and then in College Station (2018-21). 

In 2022, Elko left College Station to be the head coach at Duke — his first head coaching role. He had a very successful 2-year stint with the Blue Devils that saw them win 17 games from 2022-23. Duke also went 9-7 in ACC play over that span, marking the first time since 2014-15 that Duke accomplished an above .500 record in conference games over a multi-year stretch. 

Elko took over a Duke program that had been struggling in the latter years of the David Cutcliffe era. In the 2 years prior to Cutcliffe’s arrival, the Blue Devils managed an ACC record of just 1-17. 

Under Elko, Duke especially shined on defense. After allowing over 7 yards per play in the year prior to Elko’s hiring, the Blue Devils improved to 5.52 yards per play in 2022 — good for 9th in the ACC. They improved once more in 2023 when Duke finished tied for 3rd in the ACC with just 5.15 yards per play allowed. 

In Year 2, the Blue Devils managed a 7-5 record despite quarterback Riley Leonard being sidelined for most of the season due to injury. That was enough for Duke to secure back-to-back bowl appearances for the first time since 2017-18. 

Upon moving to Texas A&M, Elko made an immediate impact on the Aggies’ program. He brought in offensive coordinator Collin Klein from Kansas State and hired defensive coordinator Jay Bateman away from Florida. 

Together, the A&M coaching staff built a roster that was competing for a College Football Playoff berth in Year 1 until the very last week of the regular season. The Aggies finished the season with an 8-4 record. 

A&M’s biggest victory in Year 1 was a triumphant comeback win over LSU in November that pushed the Aggies to 7-1 on the season. After the game, Elko made comments that highlighted the type of program he believes he’s building in College Station. 

“This is a real program,” Elko said. “It’s not fake. It’s not a politician running this program, talking fast and BSing everybody. This is a real program. And for all the recruits out there, this is a real place. And if you want to be really good at football, this is a really good place to be.”

Spenser Davis

Spenser is a news editor for Saturday Down South and covers college football across all Saturday Football brands.