Mike Elko Looking To Build Texas A&M Football, Not Hire A New Athletic Director
Mike Elko knows college football is a 24/7 job, and worrying about outside noise does little for anyone.
It's why the first-year Texas A&M coach wasn't interested in answering questions last week about what makes an exceptional athletic director in the changing times of the sport amid NIL and transfer portal news.
Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-USA TODAY Sports
“I’m going to punt that one and let the people who care about that one talk about that one,” Elko said. “I’ve got enough things on my plate to worry about.”
The Aggies are in search of their fifth athletic director since joining the SEC in 2012. Much like Ole Miss was viewed when A&M pegged Ross Bjork to replace Scott Woodward, College Station is now the "next-best" thing since Bjork is off to Ohio State.
Perhaps the move was needed by both sides. Bjork's tenure came with highs, especially when embracing the new era of NIL for players to profit, but it also came with flaws.
The Jimbo Fisher contract extension?
The full-pay buyout?
The Mark Stoops fiasco mid-hours before Elko was introduced back to Kyle Field?
The search committee is underway to find Bjork's hopeful long-term successor. Elko, who spent four seasons under Fisher as A&M's defensive coordinator, has no interest in being a part of the decision-planning.
It's a welcoming difference from Fisher, who wanted total control over everything surrounding the program during his six seasons in Aggieland. Fisher couldn't relinquish the play-calling, let alone give up little factors of the roster that never could reach Atlanta.
For Elko, he's in a more laid-back approach. Sights are set on coaching and building a program up to the level that Fisher promised when he joined the Aggies from Florida State in 2017. Woodward, who since has departed for LSU, gave Fisher a plaque stating 'national champion 20' waiting to insert the final two years.
That won't be Elko's case, nor does he want it that way. His interest is in spring practice beginning next month, not over someone singing his paycheck.
“Right now I guess I can’t get fired because I technically don’t have a boss,” Elko laughed. “So that’s a good place to live in.”
The Aggies are banking on Elko to become the next R.C. Slocum, a defensive-minded coach with a no-nonsense persona that carries over from practice to gamedays. That's how Slocum was and it led to winning results.
An advantage for Elko entering the year is knowledge of the SEC. The Aggies were 34-14 while he was on staff, including 9-1 with a top-five finish in the AP Poll in 2020 following an Orange Bowl victory over North Carolina.
With the signing period over, attention turns to practice, the first glimpse of the changes coming under Elko. After that comes the Maroon and White Game, a place Elko believes will be filled with Aggies.
“My expectations for this place are always the same,” Elko said of the spring game. “We have a passionate fan base that gets really excited about Texas A&M football, and I would hope that the things that have happened in the last two months have kind of rekindled a lot of that energy and passion."
What happens if the Aggies remain home on Apr. 20? Elko will move on. So will A&M players, since attention turns to Aug. 31 for the home opener against Notre Dame.
“I know this place will be rocking when Notre Dame comes here, so I don’t feel like I need to dare our fans to get out here at any point between now and then,” Elko said. “We will show up as needed when needed, so I appreciate our fan base for that. … I know they’re here when we need them.”
