Mike Elko turned Duke football around in one season. Now he’s got a contract extension

JULY 24, 2023 2:15 PM
One outstanding season as a head coach earned Mike Elko ACC Coach of the Year honors — and a nice contract extension.
Duke has reworked and enhanced Elko’s contract after he led the Blue Devils to a 9-4 record last season, and their first bowl appearance since 2018.
The school did not disclose details of the new multi-year deal on Monday.
“Sincere thanks to Dr. (Vincent) Price and Nina (King) for their commitment not only to me but also the football staff and entire program we have here at Duke,” Elko said in a statement. “This will enable us to continue to build elite opportunities for our young men to develop and succeed at one of the most prestigious universities in the country. We came here with a mission to create a program that could become the absolute best of both worlds, and this is another step in that direction. The future of Duke football is extremely bright.”
Previously Texas A&M’s defensive coordinator, Elko replaced David Cutcliffe as Duke’s head coach in December 2021 after the Blue Devils went 5-18, including a 13-game ACC losing streak, during the 2020 and 2021 seasons. That gave Duke a streak of three consecutive losing seasons.
The 45-year-old Elko ended that immediately, winning his first three games as Duke’s coach on the way leading the Blue Devils to their most wins in a season since 2014.
“Over the last 18 months,” Duke athletics director Nina King said in a statement, “Coach Elko has cultivated and executed a plan to push Duke Football forward with tremendous attention to detail, energy and a persistent commitment to excellence. His passionate dedication to the Duke experience sets the standard, and we are fortunate to have him and the entire staff developing the young men in our program into elite student-athletes and future community leaders. Coach Elko’s vision acutely aligns with the principles of the university, and I could not be more excited to have him guide Duke Football well into the future.”
Elko won ACC Coach of the Year honors last season by taking many of the same players who suffered through lopsided losses in 2021 and forging them into a team whose four losses were by a combined 16 points.
Duke’s 5-3 ACC record marked the first time the Blue Devils didn’t post a losing league record since 2015, and their first winning ACC record since 2014.
He accomplished that despite having never previously been a head coach at any level. Prior to taking the head job at Duke he was defensive coordinator at Texas A&M (2018-21), Notre Dame (2017), Wake Forest (2014-16) and Bowling Green (2009-13).
He also coached defense at Hofstra (2006-08), Richmond (2004-05), Fordham (2002-03), the Merchant Marine Academy (2001), Penn (2000) and Stony Brook (1999). Elko played football at Penn from 1995-98.
Duke opens Elko’s second season against reigning ACC champion Clemson on Labor Day night, Sept. 4, at Wallace Wade Stadium. That begins a challenging schedule that also sees Duke face Florida State and Notre Dame, as well as traditional ACC rivals North Carolina, Wake Forest and N.C. State.
Of Duke’s 12 opponents this season, nine played in bowl games last season. Five of those teams won nine games or more, including a pair of 11-win teams in Clemson and Notre Dame.