Posted November 13, 2023 5:07 p.m. EST
Updated November 13, 2023 10:59 p.m. EST

Durham, N.C. - Duke football coach Mike Elko addressed the ongoing speculation linking him to the head coaching vacancy at Texas A&M. The recent firing of Jimbo Fisher has led to rumors surrounding Elko, who previously served as the Texas A&M defensive coordinator.

During his weekly media availability on Monday, Elko reaffirmed his commitment to Duke and emphasized his contentment with the program. "Everybody knows I'm very happy at this place. We're doing a lot of special things at this place. My family is very happy here. We love Duke. We love everything this place is for," Elko stated.

Elko, who has an overall record of 15-8 in his first two seasons as Duke's head coach, addressed the speculation surrounding his potential move to Texas A&M. "You try not to pay any attention to that stuff, and obviously I'm not oblivious to it. And we certainly have addressed it just because it needs to be addressed, but I don't know where that stuff comes from," Elko said.

Elko's name being linked to the Texas A&M job comes as no surprise, given his successful stint as the Aggies' defensive coordinator from 2018 to 2021. However, the coach remains focused on his role at Duke and the progress the program has been making under his leadership.

The 46-year-old coach emphasized that the rumors persist because of the team's positive trajectory. "Again, I say this all the time, when you're doing your job well, everybody thinks you're leaving. When you're doing your job bad, everyone thinks you're leaving," Elko added.

Despite the speculation, Elko's commitment to Duke remains unwavering, and he expressed gratitude for the opportunities the program has provided him and his family. The Duke football community can look forward to continuing the growth and success under Elko's leadership.

In other news, various Duke athletic teams had successful outings, with highlights including the Duke Blue Devils' dominant performance in golf and the announcement of former Olympian Omar Elgeziry joining the Duke Fencing program.