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TCU coaching search: Current SEC defensive coordinator among potential targets
By Sydney Hunte
Published:
As TCU looks to fill the spot left by longtime head football coach Gary Patterson, who parted ways with the program on Sunday evening, its search is sure to bring out a number of interesting candidates.
Shortly after Patterson’s departure, CBS Sports’ Dennis Dodd reported that current SMU head coach Sonny Dykes was the Horned Frogs’ top target for the post. On Monday, The Athletic and FOX Sports’ Bruce Feldman echoed those reports, while adding that Texas A&M defensive coordinator Mike Elko and Louisiana head coach Billy Napier could be in the mix as well.
Elko has been the defensive coordinator at Texas A&M since 2018, coming on board from Notre Dame as part of Jimbo Fisher’s initial staff in College Station. The Aggies are 2nd in the SEC in points allowed, but TCU will be looking to leverage Elko’s existing recruiting ties to the state as it hopes to bounce back from a string of disappointing seasons.
Napier, who has been impressive as a first time head coach since his hiring at Louisiana in 2018, is a rising star in the profession, and it appears that it’s a matter of when, not if, he’ll leave Lafayette to become a Power 5 head coach. While he doesn’t have the ties to Texas that Elko has, his own SEC background at Alabama could be a draw. Plus, he has something Elko doesn’t: prior head coaching experience.
Sydney is an Atlanta-based journalist who has covered everything from SEC and ACC football to MLS, the U.S. men's national soccer team and professional tennis. His work has appeared on such platforms as SB Nation, Cox Media Group and FanSided.
