Mike Elko, Texas A&M expected to hire former Auburn assistant Wesley McGriff

New Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko is expected to hire former Auburn assistant Wesley McGriff, according to Billy Liucci.

It’s the latest addition to Elko’s new Aggies’ staff. Texas A&M hired Elko away from Duke during this last cycle to replace Jimbo Fisher.

“BREAKING: Mike Elko close to rounding out his staff with latest addition to the defense, this time veteran DBs coach and former Auburn assistant Wesley McGriff,” Liucci wrote on Twitter.

McGriff, who served as an assistant coach at Auburn in 2016 and again in 2019-20, was the secondary coach at Louisville in 2022.

“Wesley is no stranger to Auburn and the SEC and will bring a veteran presence to our staff,” Auburn head coach Hugh Freeze said when he hired McGriff. “He has established himself over the last two decades as one of the top recruiters in our conference and brings great energy and enthusiasm to the table.”

At Louisville in 2022, Wesley McGriff mentored one of the stingiest secondaries in America as the Cardinals forced 15 interceptions, good for the 10th best total in the country and second best in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The team allowed the fourth fewest passing yards per game (206.5) in the league, and junior defensive back Kei’Trel Clark went on to earn all-ACC honors for the third straight season. 

Mike Elko reveals message to players after arrival at Texas A&M

For Elko, the goal isn’t just to make a bowl game. He wants to be in the College Football Playoff. That was his message to the players after he took over.

“We’ve got to become what we’re capable of becoming,” Elko said on the ESPN broadcast during Wednesday’s Texas Bowl. “I think that’s the biggest thing. I think this program is capable of being a team that’s in the Playoff and competing for national championships every year. But we’re not that right now. We’ve got to recognize that, and we’ve got to roll up our sleeves and go to work to become what we should be.”

Elko knows what it takes to win in College Station. He was on Jimbo Fisher’s staff as defensive coordinator from 2018-21 when the Aggies won eight games four straight seasons — including nine-win campaigns in 2018 and the COVID-impacted 2020 season. Now, as the College Football Playoff is getting ready to expand to 12 teams next year, he wants Texas A&M to be right in the middle of the race for a national title.