Perry Eliano And Buckeyes Part Ways

Did you hear that sound?

It may have been the first domino to fall at Ohio State after the 2023 season.

The university announced on Monday that safeties coach Perry Eliano will not be back for the 2024 season after serving two seasons in the role.

“Ohio State University head football coach Ryan Day has informed assistant coach Perry Eliano that he will not be retained on staff for the 2024 football season,” said a statement released by an Ohio State sports information official. “Eliano, who coached the team’s safeties, was in the final year of his initial two-year contract with Ohio State. A search for his successor is ongoing.”

Ryan Day brought in Eliano from Cincinnati during the first major staff shake-up of his tenure with the Buckeyes.

While with the Bearcats, Eliano coaches cornerbacks and was a major part of the development of both Sauce Gardner and Coby Bryant.

Eliano had coaching stops at New Mexico, Bowling Green, UTSA, Central Arkansas and Stephen F. Austin along the way prior to Ohio State and Cincinnati.

The Buckeyes had seen improved safety play during the course of Eliano’s run with the team, especially under the watch of defensive coordinator Jim Knowles and his 4-2-5 preferred scheme with the Buckeyes.

Paired with safeties coach Tim Walton, the Ohio State passing defense has improved over the past two seasons, moving up from No. 97 in the nation in passing yards allowed to No. 26 in 2023.

But change is eternal and the Buckeyes are ready to make some changes after a disappointing end to 2023, a third straight loss to Michigan, a disappointing end in the Cotton Bowl and the start of a long offseason in Columbus while the rivals to the north play for a National Championship.

Many expect that this won’t be the only move that the Buckeyes make in the coaching staff. Several coaches are on expiring contracts and there are assumptions that this could be the next major wave of coaching changes under Day as he looks to get his Buckeyes back to the top of the Big Ten.

Speculation has already started as to how Day’s staff will look in 2024, where the 10 allocated positions will fall between offense and defense and if any new big names could be on their way to Columbus.

There is no better time than now to be part of BuckeyeHuddle. com as we are in coaching season, along with portal season, as the roster could be in a state of flux.

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