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Texas A&M has named a brand new soccer coach a mere two weeks after dropping $75 million to purchase out Jimbo Fisher’s contract.
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Texas A&M College has named Mike Elko as its new head soccer coach, college officers introduced Monday.
The rent comes simply two weeks after the college spent over $75 million to purchase out former head coach Jimbo Fisher’s contract.
“Coach Mike Elko is among the greatest leaders and coaches in school soccer and has had high-level success at every cease of his profession. “He’s identified amongst teaching circles as probably the greatest defensive minds within the nation,” A&M athletics director Ross Bjork stated in an announcement.
Elko has been the pinnacle coach at Duke for the previous two seasons, main the workforce to back-to-back bowl video games. He served because the Texas A&M defensive coordinator and safeties coach from 2018 to 2021, aiding the workforce with 4 straight bowl journeys and an general report of 34-14.
“Director of Athletics Ross Bjork’s unwavering dedication to the success of our athletics program really hits a excessive level with this rent,” A&M Interim President Mark A. Welsh III stated in an announcement. “Coach Elko understands that fostering the expansion of our student-athletes goes nicely past the taking part in area. He acknowledges a profitable athletics program requires nurturing athletic prowess whereas concurrently instilling invaluable life expertise and getting ready them for dealing with challenges that may come after school.”
Details about the period of Elko’s contract and the way a lot he’ll be paid was not instantly out there, however will want approval from the Texas A&M College System Board of Regents.
Elko’s hiring places an finish to a nationwide search to switch Jimbo, whose buyout was paid for by donor {dollars} from the college’s twelfth Man Basis and athletic division funds. The buyout is essentially the most cash ever owed to a soccer coach.
Jimbo’s preliminary $75 million contract, signed in 2017, assured him 10 years on the college and was prolonged one other 4 years in 2021. Earlier than his departure, Jimbo earned an annual wage of $9 million.
In distinction, Steve Sarkisian, College of Texas at Austin head soccer coach, is about to make at the very least $34.2 million all through his six-year contract.
The choice to fireplace Jimbo got here after the workforce’s 35-38 loss to the College of Mississippi. Forward of Elko’s hiring, A&M Assistant Coach Elijah Robinson was named the workforce’s interim head coach for the ultimate two video games of the season.
“After very cautious evaluation of all of the parts associated to Texas A&M soccer, I advisable to President Welsh after which Chancellor Sharp {that a} change within the management of this system was obligatory to ensure that Aggie soccer to achieve our full potential and so they accepted my choice,” Bjork stated in an announcement earlier this month. “We recognize Coach Fisher’s time right here at Texas A&M and we want him the most effective in his future endeavors.”
Disclosure: Texas A&M College, Texas A&M College System and College of Texas at Austin have been monetary supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan information group that’s funded partly by donations from members, foundations and company sponsors. Monetary supporters play no function within the Tribune’s journalism. Discover a full listing of them right here.
This text initially appeared within the Texas Tribune.
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