Texas A&M hiring D.J. Durkin as new defensive coordinator

Texas A&M head coach Jimbo Fisher is bringing in Ole Miss defensive coordinator D.J. Durkin to take over the Aggies defense.

Texas A&M has found its new defensive coordinator.

Jimbo Fisher is grabbing D.J. Durkin from Ole Miss to fill the DC role left vacant by Mike Elko, according to Pete Thamel. Bruce Feldman confirmed the report.

Durkin is in the process of finalizing a three-year deal with the Aggies.

Fisher needed to find a new DC because Elko landed the head coaching position at Duke. Stealing one from an SEC West rival and under Lane Kiffin’s nose is a big catch.

D.J. Durkin is heading to Texas A&M as defensive coordinator

Durkin was the defensive coordinator of Ole Miss in 2020 and 2021 alongside co-DC Chris Partridge.

The Rebels ranked 35th in FPI defensive efficiency this year after finishing 112th in that same measure in 2020. The great improvement defensively helped Ole Miss to a 10-win season for the first time since 2015 and only the second time this century.

Texas A&M’s defense was outstanding under Elko, so it won’t be easy for Durkin to live up to his predecessor. The Aggies ranked No. 6 in defensive efficiency in 2021.

Durkin has extensive experience at the college level. He worked his way up as a position coach at Bowling Green, Stanford and Florida before landing his first DC gig with the Gators. In 2015 he spent the year as Michigan’s DC.

Maryland tapped him as their head coach in 2016 but things went very wrong with the Terrapins. Jordan McNair, a 19-year-old player, suffered heatstroke and died during a team workout. An investigation into a toxic culture in the program landed Durkin on administrative leave and ultimately led to his firing in 2018.

After a year as a consultant in the NFL, Ole Miss gave Durkin a second chance at coaching in 2020.

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