The Texas A&M Aggies are reportedly close to hiring a replacement for ousted head coach Jimbo Fisher, and it’s a familiar face.
ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported Sunday afternoon that Texas A&M is in talks with Duke head coach Mike Elko, who served four seasons as the Aggies’ defensive coordinator under Fisher.
According to the report, “Elko just informed his Duke team a decision will be made in the next 24 hours.”
It’s being reported by many media outlets as a done deal. The Houston Chronicle reports Texas A&M athletic director Ross Bjork could make an announcement as soon as Sunday night.
Elko, 46, took over a Duke program that had won 10 games in its three previous seasons, and guided them to a 9-4 mark and bowl victory in 2022. The Blue Devils are 7-5 this season.
Texas A&M fired Fisher Nov. 12, a move the school felt so urgent they gave him a whopping $76 million buyout.
Elko had been among the favorites for the job all along, but many Aggies fans apparently wanted the program to go after a bigger name.
Mike Elko? Swinging for the fences!
— Mike (@bigern245) November 26, 2023
I love how all along everyone said it would be Elko, and Aggie fans said it might be Day, Dabo, maybe even Deboer, and they end up with Elko and they say he’s a home run hire.
— Paul Finch (@SteveSanders55) November 26, 2023
That would be a good hire but can He recruit in the SEC? Coming from a UNC fan that man can coach
— Will9362greene (@WillAutry1989) November 26, 2023
That would be a fantastic hire, although Im sure their fans would disagree… lol
— Buckeye Intel (@BuckeyeIntel) November 26, 2023