 Elson served as head football coach at Western Kentucky University (WKU) from 2003 to 2009.He oversaw the transition of Western Kentucky from a Football Championship Subdivision (formerly known as Division I-AA) to a Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly known as Division I-A) program, the highest division in college football; in his final season, the Hilltoppers joined the Sun Belt Conference.Elson joined the Hilltoppers staff as a defensive backs coach in 1996.