Mike Elko opens up on how much prior stint at Texas A&M helps him

Mike Elko did an impressive job with the Duke Blue Devils, playing an instrumental role in their 9-4 overall record in 2022. And he guided Duke to a 7-5 overall record in 2023. This offseason, he managed to cash in on his success with the Blue Devils and return to a place that he’s very familiar with, the Texas A&M Aggies program.

On Monday’s version of Andy Staples On3, Elko opened up about how much his prior stint in College Station helps him to get acclimated.

How much did it help that he spent four years with the Aggies before going to Duke? “Yeah, I think it helps with familiarity. I think it helps you as you start making connections, building relationships, starting this process of getting with people,” Elko began.

“I think you’re in a much better starting point because you’ve got such a strong base for what this place is about, and for what this community’s about, and what this school’s about. I think where you’re starting from is at a much more elevated level. And that can only help as you start to build the foundation to this.”

The new Texas A&M coach has slowly risen through the ranks over the past 20 years. Elko first reached the FBS level in 2009, when he took a job at Bowling Green. After that he spent time at Wake Forest (2014-16) and Notre Dame (2017) prior to his stint at Texas A&M.

Texas A&M will make it well worth Elko’s while if he can succeed. Texas A&M AD Ross Bjork explained how the University structured his contract shortly after they hired him.

“We have to get this contract right,” Bjork said. “We can’t do what we did before. … We’ve level-set with everybody we’ve talked to and said, ‘Here are the parameters, and here is the structure.’ It gives you an incentive structure that is way different than what we’ve had before. You can have a base package that has to be competitive, but then it’s like, we’re not giving bonuses to go to the Liberty Bowl. (You make) the CFP, the first round, the quarterfinals, the semifinals, you host, you win the national championship.

“You win the national championship, you’ll get paid like a national championship coach. That’s how we’re putting this package together.”

Texas A&M opens up their 2024 season against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. That one will be played on Saturday, August 31st.

On3 Staff Report also contributed to this article.