Late arrival is no deterrent for Eliano
New CBs coach a quick study
The dusting of snow Albuquerque received Monday night/Tuesday morning could be seen as Mother Nature’s way of making Perry Eliano feel at home.
Eliano, the New Mexico Lobos’ new cornerbacks coach, missed the team’s first two spring practice sessions because of a massive snowstorm in the Midwest.
While attempting to fly out of Detroit, he said, “We got eight inches in one day and a total of about 14 inches in three days, so it was rough.”
Playing from behind, though, is something coaches quickly learn to do.
“Coaching is coaching and teaching is teaching,” Eliano said recently after spring practice No. 3, but No. 1 for him. “I think we’ve got a good group of guys that are talented. Obviously (head coach Bob Davie) and the staff, before I got here, have laid the foundation.
“The biggest thing I’m trying to do is just continue to learn the terminology of (defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove’s) defense and just make sure I’m doing my part as their coach.”
Senior Jalin Burrell, a returning starter at cornerback, said the transition from former cornerbacks coach Al Simmons to Eliano has been remarkably easy. They even look a bit alike, he said.
Eliano, who spent the last two years as the defensive coordinator at Bowling Green, had been in Albuquerque briefly after being hired before returning to collect his family. Burrell met with him then.
“It’s been a really nice process,” Burrell said. “... There’s a lot of comfortability there.
“I feel like he’s gonna step in after all the hoopla he’s been through trying to get here and do a tremendous job.”
In truth, Eliano probably is not all that accustomed to heavy snowfall.
A native of Killeen, Texas, Eliano played his college football at Stephen F. Austin State in Nacogdoches, a 3½-hour drive from his hometown.
He’s beginning his 18th year of coaching, having worked at SFA, Central Arkansas, Sam Houston State and UTSA before coming to Bowling Green in 2016. He was fired by Falcons coach Mike Jinks after the 2017 season.
Meanwhile, Davie had decided to part ways with Simmons, who had worked at UNM since 2015. Simmons now is working at UNLV, New Mexico’s Mountain West Conference rival, as the Rebels’ safeties coach.
Davie announced Eliano’s hiring on Jan. 20.
Eliano inherits a solid group at cornerback, led by Burrell and fellow returning starter D’Angelo Ross. Burrell and Ross combined for 81 tackles and 21 pass breakups last fall.
“Those guys, obviously they’ve played a lot of ball,” Eliano said. “The biggest thing for guys that have played a lot of ball is just to continue to perfect their craft.
“Work on the little things, don’t get complacent. There’s always room for improvement, from fundamentals, technique, to continuing to slow the game down.”
Meanwhile, for Eliano, it’s full speed ahead. He and his wife, Regenia, already have found a house. Their sons, Amari, 8, and Evan, 5, started school here on Valentine’s Day.
The education of UNM’s cornerbacks continues.
“The thing I’ve enjoyed most is that they’ve embraced me as their coach and they’re taking the coaching,” Eliano said.
“It’s a daily thing as far as me learning them and them learning me, but so far I’ve been pleased.”
INJURY REPORT: Suddenly, the Lobos are a bit thin at outside rush linebacker.
Senior Everett Powell watched Wednesday’s practice from the sideline while wearing a protective boot on his left lower leg. Late in Monday’s workout, senior Rayshawn Boyce went down and had to be carted off the field with an apparent lower leg injury.
Boyce did not participate in Wednesday’s practice. Senior walk-on DaQuan Baker missed Wednesday’s practice due to illness. That left only sophomore Rhashaun Epting and senior Jordan Flack, the players who saw most of the action at outside rush last fall.
Kevin Cosgrove, acting head coach while Davie serves his UNM-mandated suspension, said he wasn’t sure whether Powell will return before the end of spring practice.
“I think Rayshawn has a good chance to be back,” he said. “DaQuan will definitely be back.”
A&M IN ’23: UNM will play Texas A&M in College Station in 2023, footballschedules.com has reported and UNM has confirmed. The contracted payout of $1.6 million would be the largest guarantee UNM has received for a football game.