Ohio State safeties coach Perry Eliano will not be retained, the program announced on Monday.

Eliano, who came to the Buckeyes from the University of Cincinnati, was in the final year of his initial two-year contract.

Eliano's contract expires at the end of January.

The news comes as a surprise because Ohio State's safeties played well last season. Josh Proctor blossomed in his final year as a Buckeye, and sophomore Sonny Styles became a star in his first season as a starter. Lathan Ransom also had a solid year until his season was cut short by a foot injury in late October.

In early November, Day praised Eliano as part of Jim Knowles' defensive staff. Ohio State's defense yielded only 11.3 points per game this past season. The Buckeyes ranked second nationally in passing efficiency defense in 2023.

"Jim, and his staff have done a great job," Day said then. "Tim (Walton, the cornerbacks coach) and (defensive line coach) Larry (Johnson) and Perry, they've all been a big part of the day-to-day."

At Cincinnati, Eliano was cornerbacks coach on a Bearcats' staff that ranked first nationally in pass defense in 2021 and recruited and developed Thorpe Award-winning Coby Bryant and first-team All-American Sauce Gardner.

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio State safeties coach Perry Eliano won't be retained