Texas A&M is hiring Florida linebackers coach Jay Bateman to be its defensive coordinator, a person with direct knowledge of the move told The Associated Press on Thursday.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because a deal was still being finalized and in need of university approval.
New Texas A&M coach Mike Elko and Bateman worked together for a year early in their careers at Richmond.
Before his last two seasons with Florida, Bateman spent three seasons as co-defensive coordinator at North Carolina and five leading the defense at Army with mixed results. Florida's defenses struggled mightily in the two years Bateman spent working for coach Billy Napier.
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Bateman is also the second member of Florida's most recent staff to join Elko in college station, along with defensive line coach Sean Spencer.
Elko is a longtime, successful former defensive coordinator — including at Texas A&M. He was hired away from Duke last month to replace Jimbo Fisher.
