The University of New Mexico officially announced the hiring of three new assistant coaches to head football coach Bob Davie’s staff on Saturday, including Calvin Magee to serve as offensive coordinator and running backs coach, which was previously reported by the Daily Lobo, as well as Perry Eliano to serve as cornerbacks coach and special teams coordinator and Archie McDaniel to coach outside and rush linebackers.
Most recently, Eliano was the associate head coach and defensive coordinator at Bowling Green University for the past two seasons. Last season, the BGU defense gave up an average of 506 yards per game and forced 24 turnovers (including 15 fumble recoveries) and scored two defensive touchdowns.
Prior to joining Bowling Green, Eliano was the special teams coordinator and coached safeties for five years at the University of Texas-San Antonio, including the program’s inaugural season in 2011. During his time at UTSA, he coached Triston Wade, who was one of the 2014 finalists for the Jim Thorpe Award, given annually to the best defensive back in the country.
Eliano replaces Apollo Wright as special teams coordinator and Al Simmons, who was not retained following the season, as cornerbacks coach. Apollo Wright remains on staff, as his duties in 2018 will focus on coaching the quarterbacks.
The third and final new hire is Archie McDaniel, who returns to UNM after three years at Southern Methodist University. McDaniel served as the linebackers coach for a Mustangs defense that was statistically one of the 10-most improved defenses in the country last season and allowed 476.7 yards per game en route to a 7-6 record that culminated in a 51-10 loss to Louisiana Tech in the DXL Frisco Bowl.
McDaniel takes over with the linebackers for defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove, who has handled the linebackers since 2015. During the 2014 season, his first with the Lobos, he was responsible exclusively for the inside linebackers.
These hires complete Davie’s staff for the 2018 season, when the Lobos will try and rebound from a 3-9 campaign that saw them miss a bowl game for the first time since 2014.
Cameron Goeldner is a freelance sports reporter and photographer for the Daily Lobo. He primarily covers men’s soccer and softball, but also contributes content for baseball, basketball, football and track and field. He can be contacted at sports@dailylobo.com or on Twitter @goeldfinger.
