Mike Elko opens up about decision to leave Notre Dame after one season with Brian Kelly

When Texas A&M plays host to LSU on Saturday, Mike Elko will be going up against one of his former head coaches. Elko worked for one season at Notre Dame under Brian Kelly before heading to College Station in 2017 to become the Aggies’ defensive coordinator. A one-year working relationship between the two and flash forward seven years, they are now battling for first place in the SEC.

Elko was asked about his decision to leave South Bend to work under Jimbo Fisher, citing the opportunity to be a coordinator in the SEC. There appears to be no bad blood between him and Kelly over the move as Elko claims they have stayed in communication.

“I just think it was the opportunity to get into the SEC and start something new,” Elko said during Wednesday’s SEC Coaches Teleconference. “Brian was great to me, I’ll be forever grateful for him giving me that opportunity. We spoke after I left through the year about different things. Certainly had nothing to do with that, just the opportunity to come down here to be a part of something new in the SEC. That was exciting for me.”

Looking back at the 2017 season for Notre Dame, the Fighting Irish put together 10 wins. The defense was consistent throughout the year as well, giving up just over 21 points per game. Elko went to Texas A&M to play SEC foes but did face Georgia during the regular season and LSU in a bowl game, splitting the two.

Saturday will have LSU once again be the opponent but the stakes will be a little higher. Both the Tigers and Texas A&M are undefeated in SEC play with the lone losses of the season occurring on the opening weekend of the season vs. nonconference foes.

The SEC Championship race and College Football Playoff implications are certainly on the line at Kyle Field. All while Elko gets the chance to compete in the conference he wanted to after originally working with Kelly at Notre Dame.