Mike Elko Emerging as a Top Candidate for Penn State Job, Report Says
As the Penn State coaching search continues, the Nittany Lions are exploring every possible option.
The names thrown around throughout the search have ranged from retired coach Urban Meyer to Kalen DeBoer, and everyone in between.
One name that has been consistently mentioned is Mike Elko.
Audrey Snyder of Inside the Lions suggests that Elko is very much in the mix for the job, and the kind of candidate Penn State Athletic Director Pat Kraft had in mind, when moving on from James Franklin after 12 years.
“Penn State didn’t fire Franklin and the security of double-digit win totals (for most years),” Snyder writes. “To not try and hire someone better. The names we’ve mentioned all along like Texas A&M’s Mike Elko and Alabama’s Kalen DeBoer remain top priorities.
“Now, those are coaches of teams that are ranked No. 3 and No. 4 in the country in the AP Poll and both teams had the same ranking in the first set of College Football Playoff rankings that were released Tuesday night. Sure, these are big swings, but if those teams keep winning they could easily become big misses for Penn State.”
Elko is currently coaching at Texas A&M. The Aggies are playing some great football. They slotted in at No. 3 in the debut of the College Football Playoff rankings.
With the Aggies primed to make a playoff run, how could Penn State possibly land Mike Elko?
Pat Kraft’s Path to Bringing Elko Home
Mike Elko is a Northeastern guy.
Elko was born in South Brunswick, New Jersey. Additionally, Elko played his college ball at Penn, where he was a Safety. Elko has also spent some time coaching at places like Hofstra, Fordham, Bowling Green, and others near Penn State.
Surprisingly, Texas A&M is by far Elko’s furthest job from home.
Is it possible that Elko wants to come back to his home region? Maybe.
From Pat Kraft’s point of view, you have to try to sell that to Elko.
In Happy Valley, Elko would be closer to his old stomping grounds, closer to a lot of high schools that he knows well. Likely closer to his family too. That is probably the one major thing that Penn State has going in it’s favor.
Competing With Deep Pockets Down South
While Penn State potentially has a massive element going for itself by being close to Elko’s roots, it is going to be an incredibly tough pull for Pat Kraft.
For one, the Aggies are winning. After going 8-5 last season, Elko is currently leading an undefeated Texas A&M squad. It seems that nearly everyone down in College Station is happy with Elko.
Naturally, it would not make much sense for Elko to leave in year two of his tenure in College Station.
In addition to the fact that everyone seems satisfied with the job Elko is doing, Texas A&M boasts some extremely deep pockets. They have oil money.
The Aggies are easily within the top three in terms of funding across college football. Whatever offer Pat Kraft throws at Elko’s camp, Texas A&M should be able to match it, and then some.
If this becomes a bidding war, Penn State is destined to lose.
That being said, Elko has yet to ink an extension.
His peers, Curt Cignetti and Matt Rhule have bagged a new deal following the madness of the coaching carousel.
Could Elko’s lack of extension mean he is open to going north?
That question will get answered sometime between today and January.
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Purdy was born and raised in central Ohio and served for four years writing for his high school's newsletter. Currently studying Biblical Studies at Lancaster Bible College in Pennsylvania, Ian has been a lifelong Nittany Lion fan.
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