Texas A&M set to hire Florida's Jay Bateman as defensive coordinator

He wanted a defensive coordinator who coaches linebackers. Now he's got one.

Mike Elko is set to hire Florida’s inside linebackers coach Jay Bateman to be the next defensive coordinator at Texas A&M.

The news was first reported by TexAgs' Billy Liucci on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

Bateman, 50, has spent the last two seasons on staff with Billy Napier in Gainsville, leading the Gators’ linebacking unit that saw two players drafted in the 2023 NFL Draft in third-rounder Ventrell Miller and sixth-rounder Amari Burney.

Elko and his new defensive coordinator's paths crossed back at Richmond in 2004 when the Aggies' former was coaching linebackers for the Spiders under his mentor Dave Clawson. During that time, Bateman was coaching Richmond's secondary.

The 2004 Spiders forced 14 turnovers in 11 games, five via fumble and nine via interception.

A native of Richmond, Virginia, Bateman cut his teeth as a defensive coordinator in the college ranks at West Point from 2014-2018, leading the Army Black Knights to the eighth overall in total defense in his final season. He also received recognition as a finalist for the Broyles Award, which is presented annually to the nation's top assistant coach.

Following a standout final season at Army, Mack Brown named Bateman the co-defensive coordinator at North Carolina upon his return to Chapel Hill in 2019. While wearing Carolina Blue, Bateman is credited for the development of former quarterback Chazz Surratt as an all-conference linebacker and eventual third-round draft pick by the Minnesota Vikings in 2021.

After his days as a linebacker at Randolph-Macon, Bateman began his coaching career at Benedictine High School in Virginia in 1995.

He brings nearly three decades of coaching experience to Aggieland.

Bateman served as a graduate assistant at Hampden-Sydney from 1997-98, followed by a one-year stint as the defensive coordinator at Siena. His other coaching stops include Lehigh (2005), Elon (2006-10) and Ball State (2011-13).

With Bateman guiding the defense, Elko & Co. hope to continue a proud tradition of stout defenses in Aggieland.