Watch Texas A&M HC Mike Elko's recent interview ahead of his return to Notre Dame

When the Texas A&M Aggies step onto the field in South Bend, they will have an opportunity to establish themselves on the national stage as legitimate College Football Playoff contenders. Ahead of the matchup, head coach Mike Elko spoke with NBC’s Nicole Auerbach about his journey to Texas A&M and what the team must do to leave Notre Dame Stadium with a top-10 victory.

Elko exemplifies the ascent from humble beginnings to elite achievement—not just in football, but in life as well. He rose from modest roots to become an Ivy League graduate. After earning his degree, he wasted no time diving into coaching, beginning at Stony Brook as a graduate assistant.

A few years later, he earned his first role as a defensive coordinator at Merchant Marine in 2001. That opportunity eventually led him to reconnect with his longtime coach, Dave Clawson, through a prior relationship, setting him on the path that would ultimately lead to his position as head coach at Texas A&M.

"I've been around some really great people who have taken care of me. Obviously, Dave Clawson's the guy that I spent so much time with and owe so much of my success to"

After coaching alongside Clawson for 12 seasons, Elko was offered a position on Brian Kelly’s staff as defensive coordinator at Notre Dame . In his single season there, he produced the 46th-ranked defense in the nation. Had he not accepted the job at Texas A&M in 2018, who knows how strong that unit might have become? Despite his brief tenure in South Bend, Elko developed deep admiration for the program.

"I have a ton of respect for Notre Dame, for the program, for the history that's in and around that stadium. It's a great venue. We had a lot of great nights when I was there as the defensive coordinator."

Now, as the Aggies’ head coach, Elko returns for the first time since his departure, eager for the chance to make history by securing Texas A&M’s first-ever win at Notre Dame Stadium and opening an early door to College Football Playoff consideration.

Below, you can watch the full interview with Coach Elko as he strolls through Aggie Park.

Contact/Follow us  @AggiesWire  on X and like our page on  Facebook  to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Jarrett Johnson on X:  @whosnextsports1 .

This article originally appeared on Aggies Wire: Mike Elko’s Journey to A&M: From small schools to big-time football