Texas A&M Football Coaching Rumors: Familiar Name Returning?

Could Texas A&M Football Bring Home a Familiar Face?

As we are now in the thick of things with the Texas A&M football coaching search, Aggie fans are casting a wide net as regards speculation for who might fill the position. One of the names that comes up time and time again is that of a former Texas A&M football coach who has been finding a lot of success in his new gig—albeit in a lower-stakes milieu.

I am of course referencing Mike Elko, who left in the offseason after the 2021 season to accept a job as the head coach of the Duke Blue Devils. In his time at Duke, Elko has already been making waves, being named ACC coach of the year in 2022 after leading his team to a 9-4 record, and recently becoming the first Duke coach to defeat a top-10 team since 1989—all the way back when Steve Spurrier was the head man in Durham.

So, would Elko be a good fit for Texas A&M football? It’s certainly a higher-pressure gig than being the head coach of the Blue Devils. It’s not hard to imagine a scenario where Elko prefers the lower-key surrounds of eastern NC. His coaching style and acumen make it almost a certainty that he would be over .500 every single year, which would make him a legend up in Durham if he chose to remain there for the long-term. Of course, there’s a pretty clearly-defined ceiling at Duke given the lack of institutional commitment to building a champion in football. At best, Elko could build something very similar to Mark Stoops up at Kentucky (though I regard him as a better coach than Stoops, it’s a very comparable situation with regard to the culture), but nothing much more than that. The resources as regards recruiting, competitiveness in NIL, facilities, and willingness to pay for the best assistants just aren’t there at Duke like they would be at A&M. Because of that, you can only go so far.

If Elko decided to take this chance, though, the sky is the limit. That’s obviously a function of the school in tandem with the coach, but Elko has shown himself to be one of the top football minds in the nation, regardless of whether he plays prevent defense from time to time. The biggest question would be his personal commitment to the grind of SEC recruiting—could he be the guy to close on the big-time prospects? He certainly was an asset in that department when at A&M previously. His return would likely ensure the retention of Elijah Robinson, which is a key factor here, and would be well-received by the team. It fits my personal preference of hiring an elite defensive mind at the head spot—something the Aggies have not had since Slocum. I’d be really happy if the Aggies made this hire—it would strike me as maybe an 8.5 out of 10. He doesn’t quite have the reputation of a relentless, knock-down, drag-out recruiter, but everything else seems to fit perfectly to make him successful as the coach of Texas A&M football.

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