After Saturday night’s chaotic ending following the botched hiring of Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops, Texas A&M’s search for the next head football coach after the firing of Jimbo Fisher has finally reached its conclusion, as, according to multiple sources, Duke head coach and former Texas A&M defensive coordinator Mike Elko has been named Fisher’s immediate successor.
On Sunday afternoon, TexAgs’ Billy Liucci officially confirmed the news that the A&M Board of Regents made the decision late Saturday night, just hours after the Stoops debacle, as the longtime favorite to succeed Fisher at the helm potentially has finally reached the mountain-top.
While Fisher’s $76.8 million buyout will likely remain a record for quite some time, Elko’s reported buyout from Duke sits at around $5 million, making this a win-win from a financial standpoint.
Ending his Duke career with a 16-9 record, Elko has guided the Blue Devils to consecutive bowl appearances, as his first head coaching stint was impressive, to say the least.
After a wild 24 hours, Texas A&M set to hire Mike Elko as next head coach. Decision on A&M's side was made late last night, with conversations with Elko taking place throughout Sunday.
— Billy Liucci (@billyliucci) November 26, 2023
Elko’s four seasons in College Station were built on consistent progress. The Aggies’ defense continued to improve yearly, including his ninth-ranked unit during the 9-1 2020 season, the most successful campaign under Jimbo Fisher during his Aggie career.
Regarding relationships, Elko is close with several of A&M’s coaching staff members, including interim head coach Elijah Robinson, who will likely stay with the program, so stay tuned for any updates.
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