Perry Eliano is out after two seasons as Ohio State’s safeties coach.
Ohio State announced Monday that Eliano would not be retained as Ohio State’s safeties coach for the 2024 season. Eliano was in the final year of the two-year contract he signed to become the Buckeyes’ safeties coach in 2022.
A search for his successor is ongoing, per Ohio State’s announcement.
Eliano joined the Buckeyes in January 2022 as one of three new full-time defensive assistants along with defensive coordinator Jim Knowles and secondary coach Tim Walton. Ohio State’s defense made clear improvements in his two years on staff, leading the nation in passing yards allowed per game with only 145.9 allowed per game in 2023.
That said, Eliano was unable to land several top targets on the recruiting trail, including five-star safety KJ Bolden – his relative – in the 2024 recruiting class. Ohio State brought in two safeties in the 2024 class, four-star Jaylen McClain and three-star Leroy Roker, after adding the trio of Malik Hartford, Jayden Bonsu and Cedrick Hawkins in 2023.
Eliano becomes the first member of Ohio State’s 2023 coaching staff to be officially informed he will not be returning in 2024. His departure is not expected to be the only change for Ohio State’s 2024 coaching staff, however. Quarterbacks coach Corey Dennis and special teams coordinator Parker Fleming have both also been rumored to be on their way out.
