EIU Recruiting Areas: Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota
Illinois Recruiting Counties/Areas: Cook, Boone, McHenry, Lake
Follow on Twitter @EIU_FB and @CoachCannova63
Eastern Illinois
* Hired as an assistant coach in February 2022 on head coach Chris Wilkerson's staff
* Serves as offensive line coach, enters third year on staff for 2024 season
* Promoted to Offensive Run Game Coordinator in January 2024
* Coached two All-Big South-OVC Football selections in 2023 (1st team Chad Strickland / 2nd team Sebastian Pares)
* Coached an offensive line that blocked for running back MJ Flowers, 2023 Jerry Rice Award runner-up
* Coached Freshman All-American Offensive Lineman Nic DiSanto in 2023
* Helped coach an offensive unit that ranked 25th in the FCS in passing offense
* Offensive Lineman Chad Strickland named an FCSADA Academic All-Star, Doris Robinson Award Finalist and Academic Big South-OVC selection
* Worked on coaching staff that helped produce a turnaround from 2 wins in 2022 to 8 wins in 2023 and No. 24 national ranking
* Coached an offensive line unit that had eight different starting line-up combinations over 11 games in 2022
* Coached second team All-OVC tackle Chad Strickland in 2022
* Offensive group ranked 11th in fewest penalty yards per game in FCS
* Team had three 400-yard total offense games with a high of 441 against FBS member Northern Illinois
* Team rushed for 300+ yards in back-to-back games with 339 against Murray State and 340 against Northwestern State
Prior to Eastern Illinois
* Worked as an offensive graduate assistant coach at Texas Tech (2019-2021)
* Helped coach offensive line including serving as offensive line coach for two games in 2020 due to COVID protocols
* Helped mentor nine All-Big 12 Conference selections
* Offensive line ranked in the Top 35 in the FBS in fewest sacks allowed all three seasons, ranked 7th in 2019
* Member of Texas Tech coaching staff for Liberty Bowl (2021)
* Worked as an offensive graduate assistant coach at Utah State (2017-18)
* Helped coach offensive line including serving as offensive line coach in the 2018 New Mexico Bowl
* Helped mentor six All-Mountain West Conference selections
* Offense ranked in the Top 30 in the FBS in both seasons including No. 2 in points per game in 2018
* Offensive line ranked third in fewest sacks allowed in FBS in 2018
* Member of Utah State coaching staff for New Mexico Bowl (2018) and Arizona Bowl (2017)
* Worked as an assistant coach at St. Ambrose University (2014-17)
* Coached offensive line with seven All-Conference selections
* Team was ranked #20 in final NAIA poll of 2015
Personal
* Played football at North Central College
* Starter on three CCIW Championship teams
* Earned CCIW All-Academic Honors
* Helped team advance to three NCAA Division III playoffs (2011, 2012, 2013)
* Bachelor's degree from North Central College in 2014
* Master's degree from Texas Tech University in 2020
* Native of Naperville, Illinois (attended Benet Academy in Lisle)