Duke coaching search zeroes in on high-profile SEC coordinator, per report
Published:
Duke hopes to have its new head coach in place by the end of the week.
That’s according to new reporting from Steve Wiseman of the Raleigh News & Observer. Duke parted ways with longtime head coach David Cutcliffe on Nov. 28, and after initially targeting current head coaches as potential replacements, the Blue Devils have honed in on a pair of assistants, according to Wiseman.
“After showing initial interest in current head coaches like East Carolina’s Mike Houston and Army’s Jeff Monken, Duke’s focus is trained on assistants, led by Clemson’s Tony Elliott and Texas A&M’s Mike Elko,” Wiseman wrote.
Both Elliott and Elko are among college football’s highest-paid assistant coaches. Wiseman reported that Cutcliffe’s salary neared $3 million a year but that number could rise with whoever is hired next.
Elliott, a Broyles Award winner in 2017 as the Tiger offensive coordinator, has been with Clemson since 2011. The 42-year-old would become the first person of color to serve as Duke’s head coach if he were to be hired.
Elko has been at Texas A&M since 2018 as the program’s defensive coordinator and safeties coach. He’s been a defensive coordinator for 16 seasons, spanning stops at Notre Dame, Wake Forest, Bowling Green, and Hofstra.
The Blue Devils finished just 3-9 overall this season and went winless in ACC play. They’ve only won 2 of their last 23 conference games.
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
