Ohio State announced Monday that safeties coach Perry Eliano will not return to Columbus in 2024 after two seasons with the program. Eliano’s contract expired at the end of the current season and a search for his successor is ongoing, according to a statement from an Ohio State spokesperson.
Eliano was hired by head coach Ryan Day ahead of the 2022 season from Cincinnati – one of three new defensive assistant coaches that offseason, along with defensive coordinator Jim Knowles and cornerbacks coach Tim Walton – where he had served as cornerbacks coach for two seasons prior to his arrival at Ohio State. Eliano also had coaching stints at New Mexico and Bowling Green, among others, in a coaching career dating back to 2001.
Eliano had worked closely with Knowles over the past two seasons in Knowles’ system that utilizes three safeties on the field. He helped the passing defense – led this year by Lathan Ransom, Josh Proctor and Sonny Styles at safety – finish first nationally in passing defense at 145.9 yards allowed per game.
But while Eliano had mostly helped Ohio State’s defense improve on the field, the same could not be said for his recruiting efforts. The Buckeyes signed just two safeties in this last cycle – four-star Jaylen McClain and three-star Leroy Roker – as Eliano missed on several high-profile targets, including five-star safety KJ Bolden – a relative of Eliano – who signed with Georgia.
