Perry Eliano is back for his second season as the cornerbacks coach at the University of Toledo. He was given added duties as the defensive pass game coordinator in 2025.
In his first season with the Rockets, Eliano mentored a young cornerbacks room that included junior Avery smith, who earned second-team All-MAC honors in his first season as a starter. Smith had two interceptions and 14 pass breakups. He finished second in the MAC with 16 passes defended and tied for second in the country with 14 breakups.
Also in the Rockets’ 2024 cornerbacks room was sophomore Braden Awls, who snagged a team-best four interceptions, including a critical pick in Toledo’s 48-46 victory over Pitt in the GameAbove Sports Bowl. Junior Nasir Bowers added two interceptions and five pass breakups. As a team, Toledo’s 13 interceptions was tied for first in the MAC.
Eliano has 24 years of college coaching experience with eight different schools. His most recent stop prior to joining the Rockets was at Ohio State from 2022-23. 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. Hickman currently plays for the Cleveland Browns.
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. Gardner was selected as the fourth overall pick in the first round by the N.Y. Jets in the 2022 NFL Draft, while Bryant was taken in the fourth round by Seattle. Gardner went on to earn NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors in 2022.
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
2024-25 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
