Texas A&M Football Coaching Staff

Mike Elko

Head Football Coach

Elko has been the head coach at Duke the past two seasons, guiding the Blue Devils to back-to-back bowl games. He was named the 2022 ACC Coach of the Year as the Blue Devils finished 9-4 complete with a bowl victory over UCF in the Military Bowl. The 2023 season saw the Blue Devils get off to a 4-0 start before injuries took their toll and Duke finished the regular season 7-5.

Elko is no stranger to Aggieland having served as the defensive coordinator and safeties coach from 2018-21, helping Texas A&M finish with four straight bowl trips and an overall record of 34-14 (.708).

The Aggies finished 9-1 in 2020 with an Orange Bowl victory and Elko was a semifinalist for the Frank Broyles Award, the nation’s top assistant coach, in 2021. Texas A&M registered a final No. 3 ranking in scoring defense, allowing under 16 points per game, along with the No. 9 pass efficiency defense and No. 7 red zone defense in the country. The Aggie defense ended the season seventh in the country allowing only 4.66 yards per play and was No. 12 in the country in total sacks.

Prior to his time at Texas A&M, Elko was the defensive coordinator at Notre Dame in 2017. Elko was a semifinalist for the Broyles Award as the Fighting Irish finished 10-3 with a win over LSU in the Citrus Bowl.

Trooper Taylor

Associate Head Coach (Offense)/Running Backs

Taylor was on staff at Duke for five years, serving in the same role in each of Elko's two seasons with the Blue Devils.

Taylor has over 30 years of coaching experience, including being on staff at Auburn for its 2010 BCS National Championship run, in which the Tigers went a perfect 14-0. In total, he's coached in 16 bowl games during a career that also includes stints at Baylor, New Mexico, Tulane, Tennessee, Oklahoma State and Arkansas State. He has also been named one of the nation's top-25 recruiters by Rivals.com on three occasions (2005, 2007 and 2010).

Taylor joined the Duke staff as an assistant coach in January 2019 and was promoted to associate head coach in 2020. He worked with the wide receivers in his first two seasons and spent the 2021 season overseeing the cornerbacks before Coach Elko tabbed him as the running backs coach in 2022. Taylor closed out his time at Duke leading the Blue Devils to victory in the Birmingham Bowl as the interim head coach.

Taylor came to Durham after spending six seasons at Arkansas State (2013-18), where he helped the Red Wolves to 47 wins, six bowl game appearances and a pair of Sun Belt Conference championships in 2015 and 2016. Over his last three campaigns in Jonesboro, he served as the program's assistant head coach. During his tenure, Taylor coached 11 All-Sun Belt selections including his son, Blaise, who was a four-time all-conference honoree as well as National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete accolades. In addition, Taylor helped Arkansas State secure five consecutive signing classes that were ranked among the top three in the Sun Belt Conference by at least two of the major recruiting services.

Jay Bateman

Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers

A 25-year coaching veteran, Bateman comes to Aggieland following two seasons at Florida as the inside linebackers coach and three seasons as the defensive coordinator at North Carolina.

During his first year at Florida, Bateman's unit contributed to a Florida defense that helped lead the SEC, producing 22 takeaways during the 2022 season. Bateman delivered two NFL Draft picks including Ventrell Miller, who was picked in the fourth round by the Jacksonville Jaguars, along with Amari Burney who was selected by Las Vegas in the sixth round.

Bateman made the move to Gainesville after spending three seasons as North Carolina's co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach (2019-21). Upon his arrival, Bateman helped engineer major improvements in the Tar Heel defense which was one of the nation's top five most improved units in total defense, scoring defense and rushing defense that year. His aggressive style was evident in the 36.0 sacks the team produced in 2020, the fifth-most in the nation that season and the most for a North Carolina defense since 2000. The Tar Heels also boasted top-35 rankings in scoring defense, total defense and rushing defense among teams that played at least 10 games that season. During his time with the Tar Heels, Bateman helped develop two NFL Draft picks, including first team All-American Chazz Surrat who was picked in the third round by the Minnesota Vikings in 2021, along with Jason Strowbridge who was selected in the fifth round by the Miami Dolphins in 2020.

Prior to UNC, Bateman spent five seasons (2014-18) as Army's defensive coordinator. Army won 29 games during Bateman's tenure, including three bowl games during his last three seasons, which included two top-10 finishes in total defense. Bateman was one of five finalists for the 2018 Broyles Award and a semifinalist in 2016.

Collin Klein

Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks

Klein spent the previous seven seasons at his alma mater Kansas State where he served as the offensive coordinator (2022-23) and quarterbacks coach (2017-23). As a player, Klein finished as a 2012 Heisman Trophy finalist behind Aggie Johnny Manziel.

Klein orchestrated one of the nation’s highest-scoring offenses in 2023, including a nation-leading 78.7-percent touchdown conversion rate in the red zone. His offense ranked in the top 25 in numerous categories, including No. 8 in 3rd down conversions (.494), No. 10 in scoring offense (37.8 ppg), No. 13 in rushing offense (198.7 ypg) and No. 23 in total offense (446.1 ypg). His offense surpassed the 400-plus yard total in seven games, including five games of 450-plus yards.

Jordan Peterson

Co-Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Backs

A three-year letterwinner at A&M, Peterson returns to Aggieland, where he started his coaching career as a graduate assistant, after stops at Kansas, New Mexico and Fresno State.

Peterson spent four seasons at Kansas as the defensive backs coach and was elevated to co-defensive coordinator at the conclusion of the 2023 regular season. During his time at Kansas, Peterson mentored four All-Big 12 selections, including two-time All-Big 12 First Team selection Cobee Bryant, who became the second Jayhawk cornerback in school history to twice be named first team all-conference. Bryant and Mello Dotson, an All-Big 12 Honorable Mention honoree, combined for seven interceptions in 2023, the most by a Kansas duo since 2007.

In 2023, the Jayhawks finished 8-4 to secure a winning record for the first time since 2008 as they claimed consecutive bowl berths for only the second time in program history. In 2022, Peterson helped the Jayhawks qualify for a bowl game for the first time since 2008 and break into the AP top-25 for the first time since 2009 after starting the season 5-0.

Holmon Wiggins

Co-Offensive Coordinator/Wide Receivers

Wiggins comes to Aggieland after five seasons at Alabama as the wide receivers coach, including the previous three seasons as the assistant head coach of offense.

During his time in Tuscaloosa, Wiggins produced a Heisman Trophy and Biletnikoff Award winner in DeVonta Smith in 2020. He also developed five first round NFL Draft picks, including Jaylen Waddle (No. 6 overall), DeVonta Smith (No. 10), Henry Ruggs III (No. 12), Jameson Williams (No. 12) and Jerry Jeudy (No. 15).

In 2023, Wiggins coached Jermaine Burton to a career-best season as the senior racked up 798 yards receiving on 39 catches for eight touchdowns, while ranking sixth in the nation and leading the SEC averaging 20.5 yards per reception. Wiggins tutored Jameson Williams and John Metchie III to 1,000-plus yard receiving seasons in 2021, marking the second time in Alabama history a wide receiver duo eclipsed 1,000 yards in the same season. Williams finished the campaign a Biletnikoff finalist and first team All-American after catching 79 passes for 1,572 yards and 15 touchdowns. Metchie III led the team with 96 receptions for 1,142 yards and eight touchdowns.

Wiggins mentored Smith in 2020 to arguably the best season by a wide receiver in college football history on his way to winning the Heisman, as well as the Biletnikoff Award, Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Player of the Year and the Paul Hornung Award. He caught 117 passes for 1,856 yards and 23 touchdowns, setting SEC marks for yards and receiving touchdowns, while finishing his career with the SEC records for receptions (235), yards (3,965) and touchdowns (46).

Ishmael Aristide

Defensive Backs

Aristide was on Elko's staff as the cornerbacks coach at Duke for two seasons after stops at Miami, Texas A&M, Ole Miss and Auburn.

In 2022, Aristide helped Duke rank first nationally in fumbles recovered (16), second in turnover margin (+1.23), ninth in turnovers gained (26) and 23rd in sacks (2.8/g). In addition, the Blue Devils' defensive back unit compiled 59 pass breakups to rank fourth in the ACC and was one of two schools in the league to have five players with six-plus breakups on the year.

He made the move to Durham, after one year at Miami, coaching the strikers and outside linebackers. The Hurricanes finished the 2021 season with a 7-5 mark and an invitation to the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl.

Prior to his time in Coral Gables, Aristide spent two years with Elko at Texas A&M, working as a senior defensive analyst and secondary assistant during his first stint in Aggieland. He helped the Aggies boast a cumulative 17-6 record, including victories in the Academy Sports + Outdoors Texas Bowl and Capital One Orange Bowl. Aristide worked with a defense that ranked No. 9 in FBS in total defense (317.3 yards per game) in 2020, leading the SEC in that category and ranking No. 4 among Power 5 schools. The Aggies ended that season ranked No. 2 in the country in rushing defense, allowing just 92 yards per game.

Adam Cushing

Run Game Coordinator/Offensive Line

Cushing came to Aggieland after two seasons in the same role on Elko’s staff at Duke.

Cushing made an immediate impact in his first season in Durham as the offensive line helped set a Duke program record with 31 rushing touchdowns, while finishing with 2,394 rushing yards. Duke concluded the 2022 season second in the ACC in rushing scores, third in rushing offense (184.2 ypg) and yards per rush (4.9) and fourth in rushing yards.

In 2023, the Blue Devils ranked second in fourth-down conversion percentage (.632) and 27th in the nation, while ranking fourth in rushing touchdowns (25) and yards per rush (4.9) in the ACC.

During his time in Durham, Cushing mentored offensive tackle Graham Barton to All-America accolades in 2023, as well as All-ACC honors in the previous two seasons. He also coached center Jacob Monk to All-ACC recognition in 2022, following a season where the pair anchored an offensive line unit that ranked first in the ACC in sacks allowed (17) and tackles for loss allowed (51).

Cushing served a three-year stint as the head coach at Eastern Illinois from 2019-21. While with the Panthers, Cushing mentored 13 players to 16 All-Ohio Valley Conference honors, including three-time selection Jason Johnson. He also coached three All-Americans in Johnson, Chad Strickland, and JJ Ross.

Patrick Dougherty

Special Team Coordinator

Dougherty came to Aggieland after serving as the special teams coordinator and tight ends coach for Elko at Duke for the previous two seasons.

During his time in Durham, Dougherty coached one of the nation's top punters in Porter Wilson who finished as a Ray Guy Award semifinalist and Phil Steel All-American in 2023, as well as a two-time All-ACC honoree. In 2023, Wilson ranked ninth in the nation averaging 46.3 yards per punt, while the unit ranked second in the nation in net punting average (43.5). Duke allowed 54 punt return yards which was the seventh-fewest yards relinquished in the country with at least 55 punts.

In 2022, Duke ranked first nationally in punt return average (19.9) and 21st in kickoff return defense (17.2). The Blue Devils saw two special teams members earn All-ACC recognition, while Jaylen Stinson tied for second in the league in kickoff return yards (380) and third in kickoff returns (15).

Prior to his time at Duke, Dougherty had an eight-year stint at Ball State from 2014-21. Dougherty was elevated to assistant head coach for the last two seasons, while maintaining special teams coordinator and tight ends coaching duties. During his first year as the assistant head coach, he helped the Cardinals to their first MAC Championship since 1996 after they finished 2020 with a 7-1 overall mark and a final ranking of No. 23 in the AP and Coaches Polls. Through his time at Ball State, he coached six players to 10 All-Mid-American Conference honors.

Tony Jerod-Eddie

Defensive Line

Jerod-Eddie was recently promoted from defensive analyst to on the field assistant football coach at Texas A&M.

Jerod-Eddie first came to Aggieland from DeSoto High School in the fall of 2008. He was an honorable mention All-State defensive lineman from both The Associated Press and the Texas Sports Writer's Association.
As a true freshman, he started seven games while playing in all 12 contests. In addition to his 20 tackles, which included 3.0 tackles for loss as well as his first quarterback sack against Miami, Jerod-Eddie blocked a kick against Texas Tech.

Jerod-Eddie saw action in all 13 games as a sophomore starting five games on the interior of the defensive line and helping the Aggies reach the Independence Bowl against Georgia. His top game came against Utah State when he recorded six stops including one for loss and picked up a half-sack. He also blocked an extra point against Oklahoma.

As a junior, he started and played in all 13 games while helping Texas A&M advance to the Cotton Bowl against LSU. Jerod-Eddie had 49 total tackles and blocked another kick, an extra point against Missouri. He notched a career-high eight tackles against Oklahoma in an upset win over the Sooners and earned honorable mention All-Big 12 honors as he helped the Aggies to a share a Big 12 South Conference title.

His senior season of 2011 the Aggies won the Texas Bowl with Jerod-Eddie earning second-team All-Conference honors as selected by the league's coaches. He ended the season with 48 tackles to lead all Aggie defensive linemen and led the way with four quarterback sacks. A four-year Aggie letterman, he ended his career playing in 51 games and making 38 starts.

Sean Spencer

Defensive Line

A veteran coach with more than 20 years of experience at the collegiate and professional levels, Spencer served as the co-defensive coordinator and defensive line coach for two seasons at Florida following stints at Penn State, Vanderbilt, and with the New York Giants before arriving in Aggieland.

During his first year at Florida, Spencer coached and mentored defensive tackle Gervon Dexter Sr., a second-round selection in the 2023 NFL Draft. Spencer's unit contributed to a Florida defense that produced 22 takeaways during the 2022 season, ranking first in the SEC. Those takeaways factored into a turnover margin (8) that ranked eighth in the nation.

Prior to his time with the Gators, Spencer spent the 2020 and 2021 seasons as the defensive line coach for the New York Giants. He made an immediate impact with the Giants in his first season as the defensive front registered 40.0 sacks and helped the defense put up some of its best numbers since the 2016 season, ranking 12th in the NFL allowing 349.3 yards per game in 2020 and 10th in rushing defense giving up 111.4 ypg.

Before moving to the NFL, Spencer spent six seasons at Penn State where he was the defensive line coach for four seasons and was later promoted to associate head coach and run game coordinator ahead of the 2018 season. The Nittany Lions finished in the top 10 of the AP Poll in three of his last four seasons, winning a Big Ten title in 2016 and earning New Year's 6 Bowl berths in 2016 (Rose), 2017 (Fiesta) and 2019 (Cotton).

Tommy Moffitt

Director of Strength & Conditioning

Moffitt comes to Aggieland with over 30 years of experience, including three national titles and multiple strength & conditioning coach of the year awards.

Regarded by many in college football as one of the nation’s premier strength & conditioning coaches, Moffitt spent 21 seasons on staff at LSU, most recently in the role of the assistant athletics director for strength & conditioning. During his time with the Tigers, he served under three head coaches winning national titles with Nick Saban (2003), Les Miles (2007) and Ed Orgeron (2019). Moffitt also spent time at Miami (1998-99) and Tennessee (1994-97).

Along with raising national titles, Moffitt has numerous strength & conditioning coach of the year awards in his trophy case. Most recently he was named the 2019 FootballScoop Strength & Conditioning Coach of the Year and following an undefeated regular season in 2011 he was awarded the College Coach’s Choice Award by Strength Performance. He was also named the 2003 College Strength & Conditioning Coach of the Year by America Football Monthly, 1999 Collegiate Football Strength & Conditioning Coach of the Year by the Professional Football Strength & Conditioning Coaches Society and 1998 Big East Strength Coach of the Year.

Derek Miller

Football Recruiting General Manager

Miller previously served as the recruiting general manager under Elko for two seasons at Duke.

With the Blue Devils, Miller oversaw advance scouting and recruiting efforts for the football program, while administering camps and clinics. He was a student manager at Bowling Green when Elko was the defensive coordinator for the Falcons (2012-13).

Miller made the move to Duke after spending the 2021 season at East Carolina as the director of football player personnel and recruiting. While there, he coordinated prospect visits, on-campus evaluations, walk-on tryouts, creative media oversight and served as the scouting coordinator.

Prior to his time in Greenville, North Carolina, Miller was the director of football operations and player personnel at his alma mater, Bowling Green, before being elevated to the general manager. In 2020, he directed all non-coaching aspects of the program, which included budget management, recruiting, academic and APR monitoring, team travel, summer camps, community service, Pro Day and daily operations. From a recruiting standpoint, Miller led the identification, evaluation and acquisition process, along with organizing prospect visits and providing creative leadership to the team's social media and graphics efforts.