The Texas A&M Aggies are about to embark on their first-ever College Football Playoff run. When it concludes, head coach Mike Elko will be installing a new defensive coordinator.
According to CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz, Texas A&M defensive coordinator Jay Bateman will be taking the DC role at Kentucky when the Aggies’ CFP run concludes. Bateman, who joined Elko in College Station in 2024 following 2 seasons as Florida‘s inside linebackers coach, replaces Brad White, who headed to the Gators to be Jon Sumrall‘s defensive coordinator after the Wildcats fired Mark Stoops.
Zenitz adds that Bateman is making the move so he can be a defensive play-caller again. Elko has called plays for Texas A&M this season.
The Black Knights never allowed more than 22.0 points per game during Bateman’s final 3 years (2016-18) as their DC. They ranked top-16 in points per game allowed in 2 of those 3 campaigns.
Bateman is the second major coordinator hire for new Kentucky head coach Will Stein. The Wildcats named former LSU offensive coordinator Joe Sloan as their OC back on Dec. 4. Stein will continue rounding out his staff in the coming weeks while navigating a CFP run as Oregon’s offensive coordinator. Bateman and the Aggies battle the Miami Hurricanes at 12:00 p.m. ET (ABC) on Saturday, Dec. 20. Stein’s Ducks host the James Madison Dukes at 7:30 p.m. ET (TNT) the same day.
