Evaluating and grading Texas A&M football's coaching hires midway through 2024

Mike Elko put together quite the staff for Texas A&M football. Here's how we have them grading out halfway through the year.
Missouri v Texas A&M
Missouri v Texas A&M / Tim Warner/GettyImages
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Grading Texas A&M football's coaching hires - Mike Elko, HC

Head Coach. . Mike Elko. Mike Elko. A-

Overall so far, I think it's fair to say that Mike Elko has exceeded the expectations of the fanbase. Coming into the bye at 5-1, and with A&M now positioned where they are being discussed as playoff contenders, is a pretty nice start to the first year as Aggie HC for Elko.

The one game they did lose is where this grade is dragged down a touch. The Aggies lost what was a very winnable game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, and they just plain didn't look ready. Though that in several ways is understandable—it is a new regime, new scheme, and lots of new players, after all—it does come back on the head man at some point.

But thinking about his in-game decision-making, Elko has been pretty unimpeachable. Every fourth-down try has been the right call, and I can't recall any punts where they should have gone for it. He's managed the clock effectively in each game, too. Those are the little things that were not exactly present under the last regime, but add a lot for a team.

His biggest decision, of course, was to go back to Conner Weigman when he became healthy. That has obviously paid off in a huge way so far, so he should get some major props for that. Combine that with a top-10 recruiting class—one with its arrow pointed firmly upwards, by the way—and this has been a very encouraging start for the Aggie head man.

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