Duke football hires Texas A&M defensive coordinator as head coach

The Duke football program has hired a new head coach after the departure of David Cutcliffe. 

It was a short yet eventful coaching search for the next head coach of the Duke football program, but the university has landed on Texas A&M defensive coordinator Mike Elko as the replacement for David Cutcliffe.

The team released the news early Friday evening.

Cutcliffe led Duke to 77 wins, six bowl appearances, and an appearance in the 2013 ACC Championship after he was named as the head coach prior to the 2008 season.

However, things ended on a sour note for Cutcliffe in Durham as the Blue Devils missed the postseason for the third straight year and won a total of ten games in that timespan.

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Mike Elko spent the last four seasons at Texas A&M as the defensive coordinator of the Aggies under head coach Jimbo Fisher.

Prior to his time at College Station, the new head coach of the Blue Devils was the coordinator at Notre Dame, Wake Forest, Bowling Green, and Hofstra.

Duke was reportedly interested in hiring Clemson offensive coordinator Tony Elliott, who was hired as the head coach at Virginia, as well as former Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett, Michigan offensive coordinator Josh Gattis, Army coach Jeff Monken, and Dallas Cowboys assistant George Edwards.

Duke football hoping new head coach immediately impacts area of strength

Mike Elko is one of the highest-paid assistant coaches, and his defenses have historically been some of the best in the country.

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Duke is looking to immediately improve its defense as the Blue Devils gave up 373 points in ACC play this season and went winless in conference action for the first time since 2007, the final season before Cutcliffe arrived with the program.

Mike Elko will lead Duke into battle in his first game as a head coach on September 3 at Wallace Wade Stadium against the Temple Owls.