SAN ANTONIO — UTSA head football coach Larry Coker announced Tuesday that Perry Eliano has joined his program as an assistant coach. Eliano will tutor the Roadrunners’ safeties and his hiring is effective immediately.
“We’re excited to add Perry to our inaugural staff,” Coker said. “He not only is an outstanding coach, but he’s also an outstanding recruiter and is a great addition to our coaching staff.”
Eliano’s hiring completes Coker’s full-time assistant coaching staff, as he joins Kevin Brown (tight ends), Travis Bush (offensive coordinator/quarterbacks), Polo Gutierrez (running backs), Tony Jeffery (special teams coordinator/receivers), Nathaniel Jones (cornerbacks), Jim Marshall (offensive linemen), Neal Neathery (defensive coordinator/linebackers) and Eric Roark (defensive linemen).
“I’m obviously very excited to be back in the State of Texas,” Eliano said. “The level of high-school athlete in this state is second to none. It’s great to become a part of a growing institution and a great coaching staff led by Larry Coker, who is one of the best in the business.”
Eliano comes to UTSA from Central Arkansas, where he was an assistant coach (defensive backs) for the last five seasons, which was the first of two tenures with the Bears.
Promoted to associate head coach for the 2010 campaign, Eliano mentored 2007 third-team All-America cornerback Tristan Jackson, 2010 Southland co-Freshman of the Year safety Jestin Love and a total of nine all-conference players during his seven seasons in Conway.
Prior to his second stint at UCA, Eliano was the secondary coach at Sam Houston State in 2005, where he coached second-team All-Southland cornerback Derrick Harris.
Central Arkansas first hired Eliano in 2003 as the running backs coach and he then moved over to tutor the team’s wide receivers the following season.
In those two years, running back Willie Hopson earned first-team All-Gulf South accolades as a true freshman and wide receiver Mike Norvell, UCA’s all-time receptions leader, was tabbed second-team All-Gulf South a year later. The Bears ranked among the top 10 in Division II in scoring and total offense in his final campaign.
Eliano began his coaching career as a graduate assistant coach at his alma mater, Stephen F. Austin, from 2001-02. He helped mentor the defensive backs and running backs in those two seasons and four Lumberjacks were honored by the Southland in his two years in Nacogdoches.
A native of Killeen, Eliano was a four-year starter at both safety and linebacker for SFA 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 a son, Amari.
