TOLEDO, Ohio – Perry Eliano has been hired as an assistant football coach at the University of Toledo, Head Coach Jason Candle announced today.
Eliano, who coached the safeties at Ohio State the past two seasons, will take over the cornerback room at Toledo. He has 23 years of college coaching experience with eight different schools.

"We are excited about the addition of Perry Eliano to our staff," said Candle. "He is a proven winner who has a great track record of developing his players."

"My family and I are truly excited to be joining Coach Candle and Rocket Nation," said Elaino. "The opportunity to be part of a program with such rich tradition and an outstanding academic institution brings great joy to me. I'm looking forward to working with this extraordinary staff and our superb student-athletes. Go Rockets!"

In Eliano's two seasons at Ohio State, the Buckeyes went 22-4 and played in the College Football Playoff in 2022. In 2023, Ohio State had the No. 1 ranked pass defense in FBS. In 2022, he coached Ronnie Hickman, who was named Second-Team All-America by the Associated Press and Third-Team All-Big Ten by both the coaches and media. Eliano also coached All-Big Ten selections Josh Proctor, Lathan Ransom and Sonny Styles.

Prior to his stint at Ohio State, Eliano was the cornerbacks coach for two seasons for one of the nation's outstanding secondary units at Cincinnati. In 2021, Cincinnati made the College Football Playoffs, finishing No. 1 nationally in pass efficiency defense (103.36), No. 2 in passing yards allowed (169.2), No. 3 in interceptions (19) and No. 4 in opponent completion pct. (53.9).

Eliano's starting cornerbacks that season – Coby Bryant and Ahmad "Sauce" Gardner – became the most decorated cornerback tandem in the nation, with Bryant winning the Thorpe Award as the nation's outstanding defensive back and Gardner earning first-team All-America honors.

In Eliano's first season at Cincinnati in 2020, the Bearcats had national Top 15 rankings in five defensive categories, including tied for No. 3 in both interceptions (16) and in passing efficiency defense (101.26). The Bearcats led the American Athletic Conference (AAC) in both interceptions and passes defended (55) that season. Gardner was a first-team All-American in 2020 and Bryant led the AAC in interceptions with four and in passes defended with 11.
 
A native of Killeen, Texas, Eliano has experience in the Mid-American Conference, serving two seasons as the defensive coordinator and associate head coach at Bowling Green from 2016-17. From 2018-19 he was the special team's coordinator and cornerbacks coach at New Mexico. In 2018, two of Eliano's starting corners – Jalin Burrell and D'Angelo Ross – moved on to the NFL after solid seasons.

Eliano also spent five seasons at Texas-San Antonio from 2011-15, as the safeties coach and special teams coordinator. He coached eight all-conference players at UTSA, including safety Triston Wade, who was UTSA's first Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist and would sign with the Seattle Seahawks.

Eliano was an assistant at Central Arkansas from 2006-10. He coached defensive backs throughout his tenure and was named associate head coach prior to his final season. He coached the 2005 season as Sam Houston State's secondary coach after an earlier two-season stint at Central Arkansas as the running backs and wide receivers coach. Eliano coached wide receiver Mike Norvell at Central Arkansas. Norvell is the school's all-time leading receiver and is the head coach at Florida State after a successful run at Memphis.

Eliano started coaching as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, Stephen F. Austin, from 2001-02. Eliano played safety for the Lumberjacks from 1996-99 and was the team's Defensive Most Valuable Player and leading tackler in both 1998 and 1999. He helped the Lumberjacks to the Southland Championship and was named all-conference following his senior season. He also was named the Ralph Todd Award (University's outstanding male athlete) winner the following spring.

A standout prep defensive back, Eliano was a three-year letterwinner at Ellison High School from 1993-95. He earned all-state honors following his senior season after helping the Eagles reach the Class 5A state quarterfinals.

Eliano earned his bachelor's degree from Stephen F. Austin in 2000 and a master's in secondary education in 2002. He and his wife, Regenia, have two sons, Amari and Evan.

Perry Eliano Coaching Experience
2024: Toledo - Cornerbacks
2022-23: Ohio State - Safeties
2020-21: Cincinnati - Cornerbacks
2019: New Mexico – Interim Head Coach
2018-19: New Mexico – Special Teams Coordinator/Cornerbacks
2016-17: Bowling Green – Associate Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator
2011-15: Texas-San Antonio - Special Teams Coordinator/Safties
2010: Central Arkansas – Associate Head Coach/Secondary
2006-09: Central Arkansas – Secondary
2005: Sam Houston – Secondary
2003-04: Central Arkansas – Running Backs/Wide Receivers
2001-02: Stephen F. Austin – Graduate Assistant