Duke coach Mike Elko has been linked to the head coaching role at Michigan State. The Spartans have announced their intention to fire current coach Mel Tucker for cause.

Elko was mentioned amongst other “favorites” for the job in a story by ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg on Tuesday. Other potential candidates include Colorado analyst Pat Shurmur and Oregon State coach Jonathan Smith.

Elko is in the midst of his 2nd season at Duke. He led the Blue Devils to a surprise 9-win season in 2022 and has Duke off to a 3-0 start in 2023.

Here’s some analysis from Rittenberg on why Elko could be a fit in East Lansing:

MSU tends to like coaches with defensive backgrounds, and Elko, 46, checks the box while also showing he can produce an exciting offense at Duke. Elko won ACC Coach of the Year honors in his debut season with the Blue Devils, going 9-4 overall, before opening the 2023 campaign by stunning Clemson in Duke’s first win over an AP top 10 opponent since 1989. He spent time in the Midwest as Notre Dame’s defensive coordinator in 2017 and Bowling Green’s from 2009 to 2013, and could be lured away from a comfortable situation at Duke by the money and prestige of a Big Ten program.

Prior to taking the Duke job, Elko was the defensive coordinator at Texas A&M and Notre Dame. He’s established himself as one of the top defensive coaches in the country.

Elko and the Blue Devils will try to move to 4-0 on the season this week against UConn.