Elko left to take up his first head coaching position at Duke after serving as Jimbo Fisher’s assistant in College Station for four years, from 2018 to 2021. There, he won the ACC Coach of the Year award in 2022 after leading the team to a 16-9 record over the previous two seasons.
Following Fisher’s departure on November 12, Elko became a front-runner for the A&M job. In the end, he accepted a six-year deal with an annual base salary of $7 million. A variety of College Football Playoff incentives are also included in the contract; bonuses range from $1 million for a CFP appearance to $3.5 million for a national championship. According to Texas A&M athletic director Ross Bjork, the agreement allots a $11 million salary pool for assistants and support personnel, putting the school in a competitive national market.
Although the contract is pending approval at the Board of Regents meeting on November 30, it is different from Fisher’s fully guaranteed $9.5 million yearly contract. A national championship would raise Elko’s potential earnings to $10.5 million, and any postseason incentive would extend his contract by one year.
Elko and Bjork reaffirmed their commitment to keeping interim coach Elijah Robinson on staff, emphasizing that Robinson will lead the team through a bowl game.
In the first few weeks of his job, Elko has a demanding schedule to deal with. With the coaching change, players can now enter the team right away. He also needs to put together a coaching staff and complete the Aggies recruiting class in time for the signing day on December 20. Elko, who knows a lot of the players on the current squad, is upbeat about forging a new identity and leadership despite the obstacles.
Elko was brought in in an attempt to break free from the cycle of underachievement under Fisher, especially in terms of offensive output. The Aggies had a 34-14 record when Elko was a member of Fisher’s staff; in his absence, the team had a 12-12 record the last two seasons.
Elko, Texas A&M’s first defensive head coach since 2002, wants to inculcate a hard-working, blue-collar mentality. He notes that a potent offense is crucial, citing recent national championship teams like Georgia and Alabama.
