Perry Eliano

Since arriving to Cincinnati in March 2020, Perry Eliano wasted no time proving he is one of the best cornerback mentors in the country in his first two seasons with the Bearcats.
 
Cincinnati has gone 22-1 since Eliano’s arrival, won back-to-back American Athletic Conference Championships and advanced to the College Football Playoff Semifinals at the Cotton Bowl.  
 
In 2021, Coby Bryant won the 2021 Jim Thorpe Award, given to the nation’s best defensive back, and Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner was selected to his third All-AAC First Team, this time unanimously. Bryant was also named to the all-conference First Team for the second straight year. 
 
Cincinnati had the nation’s best pass defense in 2021, finishing No. 1 in the country in pass efficiency defense (100.47), No. 2 in passing yards allowed (168.3), No. 3 in interceptions (18) and No. 4 in opponent completion % (53.5). 
 
The Bearcats’ overall defense has been outstanding as well, ranking fourth nationally in scoring defense (16.1) and No. 7 in total defense (305.8). 
 
Gardner collected First Team All-America honors for the second straight season, as defenses rarely targeted the junior boundary cornerback. He finished with 35 tackles, three sacks, three interceptions, four pass breakups and one forced fumble. 
 
Bryant started on the other side and was named the nation’s best DB after totaling 11 pass breakups and three interceptions to go along with three forced fumbles and 42 tackles. 
 
Junior nickel back Arquon Bush also had a great season, tallying 37 tackles, three interceptions and six pass breakups. 
 
In 2020, Cincinnati finished 9-1, won the AAC Championship and advanced to the Peach Bowl – its first New Year’s Six Bowl Game since 2009.
 
Gardner proved to be one of the nation’s top defensive backs, collecting recognition from five All-America teams in 2020, including first-team honors from the Football Writers Association of America and USA Today along with second-team accolades from the American Football Coaches Association, Associated Press and the Athletic. According to ProFootballFocus.com, Gardner allowed the third-lowest passer rating in the FBS in coverage in 2020, making more plays on the ball than first downs allowed. 
 
Bryant’s 2020 season was just as impressive as he led the AAC in interceptions (four) and passes defended (11), establishing himself as one of the nation’s top cornerbacks.
 
UC featured one of the nation’s top defenses in 2020, ranking in the NCAA’s Top 15 in five categories, including tied for No. 3 in both interceptions (16) and No. 3 in team passing efficiency defense (101.26). The Bearcats totaled AAC highs with 55 passes defended and 16 interceptions.
 
Eliano has spent more than 20 seasons in the coaching ranks. He came to UC after a two-year stint as the special teams coordinator and cornerbacks coach at New Mexico.
 
The 2019 Lobos finished in the top 20 nationally in three categories, ranking 10th nationally in net punting at 42.1 yards per punt, 13th nationally in blocked kicks with three, and 19th nationally in kickoff returns, averaging 24.1 yards per return. Punter Tyson Dyer was a two-time All-Mountain West Conference selection and a Ray Guy Award semifinalist in 2019.
 
In 2018, Eliano watched the two starting Lobo corners end up with NFL teams after solid seasons.  Jalin Burrell and D’Angelo Ross tied for the team lead in pass breakups with six each.  Where Eliano made huge strides is with special teams, as New Mexico led the nation in kickoff return defense and had the No. 1 punt returner in the nation, a first on both accounts for the school.  Marcus Hayes was a FWAA Freshman All-America as a punt returner.
 
He spent the 2016 and 2017 seasons at Bowling Green as the Falcons’ associate head coach and defensive coordinator. 
 
In his last season with the Falcons, Bowling Green forced 24 takeaways, including 15 fumble recoveries and they scored two touchdowns.  The defense racked up 292 return yards on interceptions and fumbles, and the 15 fumble recoveries was tied for fourth nationally.
 
Prior to Bowling Green, Eliano spent five seasons at UTSA, starting with its inaugural season in 2011 through the 2015 season, coaching safeties and serving as special teams coordinator. Overall, he coached eight all-conference players spanning two different conferences.
 
In 2014, Eliano helped lead a defense that ranked in the Conference USA top five in five different statistical categories, including second in rushing defense (140.8 ypg). UTSA forced 19 takeaways (10 fumbles/9 INTs) with his safeties combining for seven of the picks. Free safety Triston Wade, UTSA’s first Jim Thorpe semifinalist, signed with the Seattle Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in May 2015.
In 2013, UTSA finished 7-5 overall and earned a second-place finish in C-USA’s West Division with a 6-2 mark in their first season in the league. He helped tutor a defense that forced 14 takeaways (6 fumbles/8 INTs), with the safeties combining for six of the picks, and allowed just 143.1 rushing yards per game.
 
The 2012 Roadrunners were 8-4 in their only season in the Western Athletic Conference (WAC). The campaign was highlighted by historic wins against South Alabama, the program’s first road and Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) victory, and New Mexico State, its first league win. The defense forced 29 takeaways (16 fumbles/13 interceptions), which led to 22 scores (15 TDs/7 FGs), and Wade garnered First-Team All-WAC accolades.
 
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. 
 
Eliano 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, who was recently hired as Florida State’s head coach after a successful run at Memphis.
 
A Killeen, Texas native, Eliano got his coaching start as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, Stephen F. Austin, from 2001-02. Eliano played safety for the Lumberjacks from 1996-99. He was the team’s Defensive Most Valuable Player and leading tackler in both 1998 and ‘99. Playing strong safety as a senior, he registered a team-high 99 tackles to help guide the Lumberjacks to the Southland Championship and was named all-conference following that campaign. He also was named the Ralph Todd Award (University 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 three years later. He and his wife, Regenia, have two sons, Amari and Evan.
 
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Born: May 3, 1978
Hometown: Killeen, Texas
Wife: Regenia
Children: Amari and Evan
Education: Stephen F. Austin (2000, B.S.; 2003, M.S.)
Year in Coaching: 19th

PLAYING CAREER
1996-99: Stephen F. Austin (Defensive Back)

COACHING CAREER
2001: Stephen F. Austin - Graduate Assistant
2002: Stephen F. Austin - Graduate Assistant
2003: Central Arkansas - RB/WR
2004: Central Arkansas - RB/WR
2005: Sam Houston - Secondary
2006: Central Arkansas – Secondary
2007: Central Arkansas – Secondary
2008: Central Arkansas – Secondary
2009: Central Arkansas – Secondary
2010: Central Arkansas - Assoc. HC/Secondary
2011: UTSA - Special Teams Coord./S
2012: UTSA - Special Teams Coord./S
2013: UTSA - Special Teams Coord./S
2014: UTSA - Special Teams Coord./S
2015: UTSA - Special Teams Coord./S
2016: Bowling Green - Assoc. HC/DC
2017: Bowling Green – Assoc. HC/DC
2018: New Mexico - Special Teams Coord./CB
2019: New Mexico – Special Teams Coord./CB
2019: New Mexico - Interim Head Coach
2020: Cincinnati – Cornerbacks
2021: Cincinnati - Cornerbacks

BOWL GAMES COACHED IN
Year: School - Bowl 
2020: Cincinnati – Peach
2021: Cincinnati – Cotton (CFP Semifinal)