As Mike Elko enters into his first weekend as Texas A&M's head coach, it's set to be a crucial period for the onset of the Elko era in College Station, Texas.
Sources said that Elko, hired to replace the fired Jimbo Fisher, intends to interview as many as 12 to 15 candidates this weekend for his coordinator positions, to include offensive and defensive coordinator as well as head strength coach.
And happenings at Texas A&M are expected to directly impact Duke University's ongoing coaching search and staffing decisions, multiple sources told FootballScoop.
Perhaps most prominently, per sources, renowned strength and conditioning coach David Feeley has decided not to accept Elko's offer to join him at Texas A&M.
Kevin Johns will be considered for the A&M offensive coordinator position, but Elko also has worked to target numerous offensive play-callers around the sport.
Tyler Santucci, widely considered one of the top up-and-coming defensive minds in college football, will not accompany Elko to College Station.
A&M interim head coach Elijah Robinson has been offered a meaningful position by Elko; but he continues to evaluate an opportunity to join Fran Brown's staff at Syracuse as well as other options. Sources tell FootballScoop Robinson is expected to make a decision in the coming days.
For Duke, sources tell FootballScoop that the Blue Devils' contingent is conducting in person interviews in Las Vegas over the next few days.
Contenders for the Duke job continue to be Manny Diaz, the current Penn State defensive coordinator and former Miami (Fla.) and Temple head coach, as well as Jim Knowles -- the top-notch Ohio State defensive coordinator who served previously as Duke's defensive play-caller; Scottie Montgomery, the former Duke standout wide receiver who's serving this season as the NFL's Detroit Lions' assistant head coach and running backs coach, Florida State offensive coordinator Alex Atkins, NC State defensive coordinator Tony Gibson and others.
Per sources, Duke also had deep interest in Tulane's Willie Fritz, but Fritz has remained the frontrunner for the vacant University of Houston job while also being courted to remain with the Green Wave.