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Duke finalizing deal to hire big-time SEC assistant as next head coach, per report
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The Duke Blue Devils are finalizing the hiring of a major name from the SEC to be the program’s next head coach: Texas A&M defensive coordinator Mike Elko.
Yahoo Sports’ Pete Thamel reported the news Friday evening.
Sources: Duke is finalizing a deal to make Texas A&M DC MIke Elko the school’s next head coach. He’s the former DC at Notre Dame and Wake Forest.
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) December 10, 2021
With just a 5-18 record in its last 2 seasons, Duke officially parted ways with longtime coach David Cutcliffe on Nov. 28. In 14 years as the program’s head coach, Cutcliffe amassed a 77-97 record that included only 5 winning seasons and 3 bowl wins.
Elko will hope to carry over the success he’s enjoyed in College Station.
The New Jersey native has served as the Aggie defensive coordinator since 2018. Each year since his arrival, the Aggie defense has grown more stout; they ranked 3rd nationally this season in scoring defense, allowing only 15.9 points per game. Texas A&M also ranked top-40 in each of the last three seasons in terms of yards per play, peaking this season at 7th (4.7 yards allowed per play). He was also named one of the SEC’s top recruiters by 247Sports his first year at A&M.
He also served as the Wake Forest defensive coordinator from 2014-16 and the Notre Dame defensive coordinator in 2017. This would be Elko’s first head coaching job.
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.