Defensive coordinator Mike Elko leaving Notre Dame

 

Notre Dame football will be looking to replace a big hole in its coaching staff next season.

Defensive coordinator Mike Elko will be leaving to take the same position at Texas A&M.

Elko came to South Bend this past season from Wake Forest and revamped the Irish defense. The unit showed vast improvement, especially early in the season, holding its first eight opponents to 20 points or less.

Elko's salary will be a reported 1.8 million dollars in College Station, as he joins new head coach Jimbo Fisher's staff.

There no replacement named for the job he leaves at Notre Dame, though Brian Kelly made clear that he believes it's a coveted job.

"We appreciate [Elko's] work and effort over the last year with our program and wish him the best moving forward. Notre Dame simply attracts people at the top of their profession, and, with a young and talented football team coming back in 2018, we'll certainly add our next great defensive coordinator."