Mike Elko lists plans for start of Texas A&M tenure

Mike Elko’s schedule will be booked for the foreseeable future. In his introductory press conference, Texas A&M’s new head coach revealed his game plan for what’s ahead.

“It’s an absolute whirlwind,” Elko said. “I don’t know that you prioritize. I think you just have to compartmentalize because there’s so many things that have to get accomplished. 

“The first thing is connecting with these players, getting one-on-one meetings set up with them, getting an opportunity to sit down with them, learn their story, learn who they are as young men. Figure out the ways we can enhance the experience they are having here at Texas A&M.”

Elko joins the Aggies with just two years of head coaching experience, but also brings a familiarity with the program. Prior to his last two seasons with Duke, Elko spent four seasons with Texas A&M as the team’s defensive coordinator and safeties coach, where he helped lead the Aggies to a top-three scoring defense in his last two seasons in College Station.

Elko now returns to College Station after two impressive seasons with the Blue Devils, leading them to 9-4 finish in his first season at the helm, where he was named ACC Coach of the Year. Elko followed up this showing with a 7-4 record to end the 2023 regular season, highlighted by a 4-0 start to the season.

Mike Elko focuses on winning tendencies

Despite his lack of experience as a head coach, Elko understand what it takes to win. He intends to bring that winning culture to College Station.

“There’s a recruiting class that is going to sign really quick here, and trying to get on the phone with those guys and the families and the decision-makers with all of those kids, and making sure that we lock them into what we’re doing and can convince them of the vision that we have here at Texas A&M,” Elko said.

“Hiring a staff, right? Which will be a huge piece of this thing too, and trying to sort through that process and not rushing it, but making sure we efficiently and effectively get people in here that fit our vision and what we want to try to do and build. I think that becomes the priority between now and the first signing day, which is coming right around the corner.”

Elko has no time to waste. There are 248 days between the Aggies’ bowl game against Oklahoma State on Dec. 27 and their season opener next season against Notre Dame. Elko doesn’t want to waste a minute.