Blue Devil Country

Duke Football: Mike Elko on Watch List for Major National Award

A Duke football victory at Florida State would help the reigning ACC Coach of the Year's chances of snagging national honors.
Matt Giles|
Duke football head coach Mike Elko (Jaylynn Nash-USA TODAY Sports)

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Mike Elko was ACC Coach of the Year last year, his first season at the helm in Durham. And once again, the 46-year Duke football gem is also in the running for national hardware, as his Blue Devils (5-1, 2-0 ACC) rank No. 16 this week in the AP Top 25 Poll, tied with the 1994 team for the program's highest ranking in the past 50 years.

He is one of four ACC coaches on this week's announced 26-deep midseason watch list for the American Heart Association's 2023 Paul "Bear" Bryant Coach of the Year Award. The other three are No. 21 Louisville's Jeff Brohm, No. 10 UNC's Mack Brown, and No. 4 Florida State's Mike Norvell.

"The award is given each January to a college football coach for contributions that make the sport better for athletes and fans alike by demonstrating grit, integrity," Tuesday's press release explains, "and a winning approach to coaching and life — both on and off the field."

No Duke football head coach has ever won the award. But Elko's touch is beginning to bring levels of widespread recognition and respect to the program that few ever thought possible.

"I think one of the things that we spend an awful lot of time around here on is mindset," Elko told the media on Monday after watching his squad beat NC State, 24-3, in Wallace Wade Stadium on Saturday night, "learning how to compete, learning how to chase greatness, learning how to look in the mirror every day and figure out how I can take a little bit and become better in every aspect of my life."

At 7:30 p.m. ET Saturday (ABC), Mike Elko's Blue Devils would one-up their historic Week 1 home win over then-No. 9 Clemson if they knock off No. 4 Florida State (6-0, 4-0 ACC) in Tallahassee.

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Duke football is 0-21 in its all-time series with the Seminoles.

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Matt Giles
MATT GILES

Matt Giles is the editor and publisher of Duke Blue Devils on SI, North Carolina Tar Heels on SI, and NC State Wolfpack on SI, making him a key source for comprehensive coverage of these storied college basketball programs. Since joining SI in 2022, Matt has been dedicated to providing in-depth analysis, breaking news, and exclusive content on all three teams. He covers everything from game previews and recaps to player profiles and recruiting updates. Matt's expert knowledge of these teams has made his work a go-to resource for fans and followers of Duke, NC State, and UNC. As publisher, he shapes the editorial direction, ensuring that the most relevant and timely information reaches his audience.

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