Josh Pate's College Football Show: Mike Elko Joins – Pate Speaker Series
Aired March 31, 2026 (iHeartPodcasts)

Episode Overview

In this episode of the Pate Speaker Series, Josh Pate sits down with Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko to delve into the Aggies’ program status after making the expanded College Football Playoff, the intricacies of team building, roster management in the transfer portal era, adapting to college football’s evolving landscape, and lessons in leadership, culture, and continuous evaluation. The conversation is candid, coach-centric, and rich with behind-the-scenes perspective.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

Navigating the Expanded Playoff Era

Topic: Perspective shift for programs and fans after playoff expansion

• The expanded playoff gives programs outside the top four a new source of validation.
• Mike Elko emphasizes that external perception ("made the playoffs") shouldn't cloud internal evaluation ("process and growth").
• Quote:

  "Long time ago you got into these jobs and you had to make sure the external stuff never impacted the decisions you make... From that perspective, it was a success, you know, regardless of playoffs, non playoffs."
  – Mike Elko (03:41)

State of the Texas A&M Program

Topic: Program culture, trajectory, and external perception

• Elko describes significant positive change in the program culture, palpable to everyone from recruits to NFL scouts.
• All “arrows are pointed in the right direction,” though there remains unfinished business to reach elite status.
• Quote:

  "The culture is in a really good spot... I think all arrows are pointed in the right direction for the future... there's still things obviously we need to get done and get accomplished to be the program we want to be."
  – Mike Elko (04:26)

Staff Decisions: Promoting From Within

Topic: Philosophy and practice of coordinator hires

• Elko is data-driven, evaluating each decision on merit and fit rather than external labels.
• Offensive Coordinator: Holmon Wiggins promoted for experience and readiness, after a thorough process.
• Defensive Coordinator: Lyle Hemphill’s promotion was expected as a natural progression.
• Quote:

  "You have to find the right people. Right. And at the end of the day, that's what the process is all about... I really think I have the guy in this building to move this offense forward..."
  – Mike Elko (05:28)

Developing Play Calling Talent Internally

Topic: Practice structure and grooming future coordinators

• Playcalling opportunities are built into practice (e.g., dual-field scrimmages, spring games).
• "Next guy up" mentality ensures readiness for emergencies and smooth transitions.
• Quote:

  "Even if I planned on calling something, you know, there's two people calling it on both sides of the ball... you're always planning for the unforsaken thing that could happen in coaching..."
  – Mike Elko (07:19)

Evaluating Recruiting and Transfer Decisions

Topic: Process-based tracking and feedback loops

• Ongoing evaluation is critical, tracking both incoming talents and those missed (recruits or transfers).
• Success and failure of players elsewhere serve as feedback on internal eval processes.
• Quote:

  "You have to make decisions to the best of our ability. Then we've got to evaluate those decisions. And you can't just focus on who you get... If a kid does have success, why? If it doesn't work out, why?"
  – Mike Elko (08:49)

The Evolving Approach to Player Development

Topic: Adaptation to transfer portal and athlete expectations

• Importance of patience and long-term player development vs. immediate playing time.
• Elko counsels players to trust the developmental process and clarifies that NFL-caliber talents get on the field at A&M.
• Quote:

  "If you're happy here, if you feel like you're getting better and your goal is... to get to the NFL, don't switch course... We don't have NFL players sitting on our bench."
  – Mike Elko (11:43)

Portal Strategy: Depth and Culture

Topic: Using the transfer portal strategically

• Texas A&M able to use portal entrants to create competition and build depth, not just plug gaps.
• Open, honest, and fair competition is integral for maintaining a healthy culture.
• Quote:

  "You can't promise anybody anything if you want to create culture... You have to be honest... and when it's that way, everybody respects it."
  – Mike Elko (13:44)

Head Coach Lens: Unique Perspective

Topic: Differentiating the coach's view vs. outsider’s

• Years of experience teach discernment in what matters and what to tune out.
• Must trust personal wisdom amid outside noise; ultimate accountability rests on results.
• Quote:

  "It's loud out there, right? And that's the world that we live in today... But I would hope over 26 years, I've kind of gotten to a place where I see... The results are going to be the only thing you ever get judged on."
  – Mike Elko (15:19)

Roster Readiness & Youth Movement

Topic: Departures, new faces, and readiness for SEC play

• Elko is optimistic about the current roster’s potential and SEC-ready depth, but notes that much is unproven on Saturdays for new players.
• Quote:

  "We feel really good about what we have... The difference between last year at this time and this year... is these kids haven't done very much in Texas A and M uniforms on the field on Saturdays."
  – Mike Elko (20:58)

Quarterback Marcel Reed: Growth and Reflection

Topic: Handling adversity and ownership

• Reed viewed last season’s challenges as fuel for improvement; Elko supports and tempers personal accountability.
• Quote:

  "He's a competitor... He takes a lot of the onus because he's the quarterback, but I think he looks at that and... drives to figure out, okay, how do I make sure we take the next step again this year?"
  – Mike Elko (22:11)

Culture and Adversity: The South Carolina Game

Topic: Internal response to unexpected results

• Locker room response after a shocking first half was marked by accountability, unity, and grit.
• Quote:

  "There wasn't an ounce of finger pointing. There wasn't any panic... that was maybe the one part that was like, okay, we are really putting something together in terms of how these kids are thinking about playing football here together."
  – Mike Elko (23:43)

Handling Change and Big-Picture Issues in CFB

Topic: Approach to systemic issues and change fatigue

• Elko cares about the sport’s future but is frustrated by the lack of unified leadership; focuses on what he can control in his program.
• Quote:

  "When you see so many of these demands for change, there's a part of me that just knows, like, we're so far away from changing things... It's more about, okay, here's our landscape. How do we build the best team we can?"
  – Mike Elko (26:44, 28:31)

Playoff Experience & Program Elevation

Topic: Postseason impact and growth

• Playoff exposure accelerates program elevation; every big moment is developmental.
• Quote:

  "People lose sight of the fact that elevation is usually required in order to find success... The intensity is different... sometimes you got to live and learn and that's the nature of it."
  – Mike Elko (29:46)

Process over Highlights: Instilling Work Ethic

Topic: Counteracting highlight culture and entitlement

• Constantly reminds players success is built in the unseen, everyday grind—not just in the highlights.
• NIL and modern attention make entitlement a bigger challenge.
• Quote:

  "You only grow when you don't feel as though you're entitled to success. But now with NIL and all the different things that come along with it, it's probably even harder to pull the entitlement away. But it's critical because you have to understand that you only get success through work."
  – Mike Elko (33:58)

Philosophical Evolution & Continuous Evaluation

Topic: Adapting principles and evaluating process

• Elko stresses ongoing evaluation rather than year-end audit—constantly tweaks approach to fit team context.
• This off-season saw significant revamps to match roster needs.
• Quote:

  "We are constantly trying to stay on the front foot... How do you accomplish that at the best level you possibly can? And to me, that is a constant conversation relative to this specific group of players, this era, this team, everything."
  – Mike Elko (35:38)

• Evaluation is “every day”—not just post-season ("My job as the CEO...is to be evaluating everything that we're doing constantly..." – 37:47)

Notable Closing Thoughts

• Big changes are sometimes only implementable in the off-season and must be “bucketed” for January or after the season.
• The influx of highly-ranked recruits and portal additions has fostered heightened competition and a culture of daily improvement.
• Quote:

  "We've built a roster that is willing to compete with each other every day to elevate. And that to me is everything."
  – Mike Elko (40:02)

Memorable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• On separating internal and external evaluation:

  "I think we have internal processes on how we’re evaluating growth… And from that perspective, it was a success, regardless of playoffs."
  (03:41, Mike Elko)

• On promoting from within:

  "It just kept coming back to, I really think I have the guy in this building to move this offense forward."
  (05:28, Mike Elko)

• On practice reps for future play callers:

  "I've never called a spring game. Even if I planned on calling something... there’s two people calling it."
  (07:19, Mike Elko)

• On player development and the appeal of the transfer portal:

  "NFL-caliber talents get onto the field at A&M… we don't have NFL players sitting on our bench."
  (11:43, Mike Elko)

• On locker room culture during adversity (South Carolina halftime):

  "There wasn’t an ounce of finger pointing. There wasn't any panic… it was really, above everything else that happened that day, that was maybe the one part that was like, okay, we are really putting something together."
  (23:43, Mike Elko)

• On NIL and entitlement:

  "You only grow when you don't feel as though you're entitled to success... but now with NIL... it's probably even harder to pull the entitlement away."
  (33:58, Mike Elko)

Key Segment Timestamps

| Segment | Time (MM:SS) | |----------------------------------------------------|--------------| | Playoff perception shift & internal process | 03:02–04:09 | | Program culture & state | 04:09–04:55 | | Philosophy on staff hires | 05:28–06:51 | | Developing play callers | 06:51–08:05 | | Ongoing recruiting/player evaluation | 08:05–11:07 | | Transfer portal and player development | 11:07–14:46 | | Head coach perspective & world view | 14:46–16:20 | | Roster readiness for 2026 | 20:06–21:46 | | Marcel Reed’s growth | 21:46–23:14 | | South Carolina game & culture | 23:14–25:25 | | Adapting to change/leadership in CFB | 26:09–29:24 | | Playoff experience lessons | 29:24–30:38 | | Process, work ethic, combating entitlement | 33:15–35:08 | | Philosophical shifts and evaluation | 35:08–39:05 | | Assessment of 2026 roster and closing thoughts | 39:45–40:37 |

Tone & Language

Elko is measured, process-driven, and insightful—offering direct, jargon-free responses. He consistently brings the conversation back to culture, accountability, and adaptation rather than hype or nostalgia. Pate’s tone is inquisitive, often using hypotheticals and self-deprecating humor to draw out practical insight and deeper explanations.

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

This conversation provides a masterclass in modern college football leadership, with direct insight into how a Power 5 coach navigates team-building, external pressure, the transfer portal, and constant change. Elko emphasizes process, culture, player development, and adaptability—offering a blueprint for sustainable success in the new era of College Football.