Duke athletic director makes statement after Mike Elko departure

After Texas A&M announced it had hired the Duke football coach, Nina King said the focus for the Blue Devils is on its student-athletes.

Duke athletic director Nina King made a statement in front of the media on Monday after it was announced former Blue Devils head coach Mike Elko would become the new coach at Texas A&M.

King began the statement by thanking Elko for his time with the Blue Devils program over the past two seasons. She said she would meet with the families of current football players and verbally committed prospects from upcoming classes later on Monday.

“Our priority is the well-being of our current student-athletes and to ensure they have what they need as they close out the semester academically as well as prepare for a very well-earned bowl game later this month,” King said.

The search for Elko’s replacement is already underway as well, King added.

Duke went 16-9 under Elko with a bowl victory last season and a win over Clemson to start the 2023 season. The victory over the Tigers was Duke’s first top-10 win since 1989.

Associate head coach and running backs coach Trooper Taylor will serve as the interim head coach for Duke’s bowl game.