The Duke Blue Devils and Virginia Cavaliers both find themselves with a head coach. It appears they might be battling it out for a very similar target.
According to Steve Wiseman of the Raleigh (N.C.) News and Observer, Duke has zeroed in on Clemson’s Tony Elliott and Texas A&M’s Mike Elko as the top candidates for the head coaching vacancy. The Blue Devils are looking to replace David Cutcliffe, whom they parted ways with this year following 14 seasons.
While Wiseman also noted that former Dallas Cowboys coach Jason Garrett was “on the radar,” Elliott is presumed to have the inside track given that he’s been the Clemson Tigers offensive coordinator since 2015, been involved in two national championship teams, and knows the ACC about as well as anyone.
Elliott interviewed for the opening at Duke early in December, according to The Devils Den.
However, the Virginia Cavaliers are also looking to replace a coach who stepped away this season. After Bronco Mendenhall made a surprising announcement last week, the school has scrambled to figure out who it could hire to replace him and has apparently zeroed in on Elliott.
Coaching search intrigue: It now sounds like Clemson OC Tony Elliott is back in as a candidate for the #UVA coaching job.
Former Hoo Anthony Poindexter appeared to be the guy just 24 hours ago.
My advice? Stay tuned and buckle up.— Mike Barber (@RTD_MikeBarber) December 8, 2021
According to Pat Forde, Elliott is leaning towards the Virginia job even though he appears to be the favorite to land the Duke gig. Perhaps he sees the Cavaliers as an easier path to success and long-term viability.
Penn State co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach Anthony Poindexter, who is a Virginia alum, is also considered a favorite for the Virginia job, but things appear to be in flux for him as well.
Anthony Poindexter has been careful examining options and other jobs, as @247Sports reported Tuesday. Still, must be difficult when your alma mater comes calling. Not every job is clear cut. Always give and take in negotiations and talks. https://t.co/5ubjnnB1wY
— Brandon Marcello (@bmarcello) December 8, 2021
We’ll likely get an ending to this drama in the next few days, and once that decision is made for one school the dominoes will fall for the other. And then we’ll have to see how schools like Clemson fill the voids left behind by seeing their assistants set up shop elsewhere. The carousel just keeps spinning.
[All Clemson, News and Observer, 24/7, Brandon Marcello, Pat Forde]