Texas A&M thought it had what it needed to contend for national championships, but head coach Jimbo Fisher failed to replicate his success at Florida State in six years with the Aggies. Athletic director Ross Bjork fired Fisher last week despite owing him more than $75 million. He never won more than nine games in any season, finishing with a 45-25 record (27-21 SEC). Texas A&M will now turn their attention to a coaching search, with Bjork saying he hopes to make a hire by Dec. 4. School officials have made their title expectations clear, so the options for the next coach are endless. If you love the Aggies, or just want to know if your coach is the next target, be sure to see what the proven team of insiders are saying at GigEm247, the 247Sports affiliate that covers Texas A&M.
GigEm247’s team of Texas A&M insiders are providing on-the-ground updates on every development, including insights from Jeff Tarpley, who has covered the team for more than 25 years and has deep-rooted ties inside and around the A&M community. Tarpley has led to GigEm247 reporting an unfiltered view of the behind-the-scenes talks that ultimately led to Texas A&M parting ways with head coach Jimbo Fisher.
The team at GigEm already has a list out of 10 potential candidates and there are some surprising names on the list. Head to GigEm247 now to see them all.
Top Texas A&M head coaching candidates
One name the staff has identified as a potential candidate is Mike Elko, the head football coach at Duke. The defensive genius has ties to the Aggies, building his reputation as defensive coordinator at Notre Dame and Texas A&M. He has also turned Duke’s program around in two seasons, compiling a 15-8 record through his first 23 games.
The Blue Devils are allowing the third-fewest points per game in the ACC and are bowl eligible for the second straight year. Elko has proven he can turn around a program, and his ties to Texas A&M would give him an edge on the recruiting trail. This job also has more earning potential, so the fit makes sense on both sides.
Another name on the list is a familiar one to the coaching carousel and to SEC fans, Lane Kiffin. The 48-year-old has a 31-15 record with the Rebels, including a top-15 finish and Sugar Bowl appearance in 2021. He is one of the top quarterback coaches and offensive play-callers in the country, and his personality attracts some of the top recruits in the country.
He has experience on Nick Saban’s staff at Alabama, was successful at Florida Atlantic and has put Ole Miss in contention in the SEC West several times. Kiffin drew interest from Auburn last season before ultimately signing a six-year contract extension to stay at Ole Miss. Texas A&M has proven that it does not mind spending money though, which is why Kiffin’s name is still near the top of the coaching hot board. See more candidates at GigEm247.
Source : CBS Sport
