Gabe Eliserio was hired as the Defensive Coordinator, Safeties coach, and Director of Player Development in the spring of 2022. He enters his third season on Bison Hill.
Eliserio has revitalized the Bison defense since his arrival, turning the club into one of the most feared attacks in the Great American Conference. After a developmental year in 2022, Eliserio steered Oklahoma Baptist to program bests (DII era) in points, total offense, and passing yards allowed per game.
In 2023, OBU surrendered just 146.27 passing yards per game and finished the season as the No. 1 ranked passing offense in the conference. The Bison only gave up 137 completions (the least in the GAC), brought down seven interceptions, and set a new program record (DII era) for pass break ups (38). Additionally, OBU racked up 31.0 sacks and 68.0 TFL, the second-best totals for both categories in school history (DII).
Linebacker Scooter Baker and defensive lineman Brett Karhu became the first defensive All-America and All-Region players in the DII era, while Tainique Taylor was selected to the All-GAC second team. It was a tie of the most All-GAC selections for the Bison since they joined the NCAA. Additionally, three Bison picked up a GAC Player of the Week nod during the season (Baker - 2x, Karhu, Chase Whitebear).
Under Eliserio's advisement Baker broke OBU records for tackles (121), assisted tackles (73), and tackles in a game (19 - 2x). Karhu set a DII school record in sacks (11.5) while leading the GAC in both tackles-for-loss (18.5) and sacks.
Eliserio joined the Bison staff after a brief stint at Southeastern Oklahoma State University, where he coached the defensive backs. He was also the Co-Special Teams Coordinator and Recruiting Coordinator.
In 2021, he was a part of a staff that produced a nine-win season and a postseason bowl victory in Durant. The eight-game turnaround (SE won once during the 2019 season), marked the biggest improvement by any D2 school that year.
Eliserio led a Storm defense that allowed the third-fewest points and yards per game in the Great American Conference. Additionally, the defense produced eight interceptions and finished ranked fourth in defensive passing efficiency.
As part of his special teams duties, Eliserio directed a kickoff team that was fourth in net yards in the conference.
Prior to his move to Southeastern, he served as the Defensive Coordinator and Associate Head Coach at Sterling College in Kansas from 2016-19.
As a staff member of Sterling College in 2019, he led a defense that gave up 19 points per game while ranking second in the nation for sacks and seventh in the nation for total defense. Defensively, the Warriors were not scored on for a streak of 13 quarters in a row, shutting out three opponents consecutively. The Warriors ranked first in the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference for total defense, pass defense, opponent first downs, pass defense efficiency, sacks/game & second in conference for scoring defense.
Over four seasons, Sterling won the 2017 Conference Championship while posting a 28-15 record, including NAIA Postseason Playoff berths in 2016 & 2017.
In 2015, he was the Defensive Coordinator and Recruiting Coordinator at Dordt University. Later that season, he was promoted to Associate Head Coach and served as an Instructor of Human Health & Performance.
Before then, he began his first stay at Sterling College in 2010, serving as the Defensive Secondary Coach and the Special Teams Coordinator for the Warriors. The 2010 & 2011 Warrior defensive units ranked first in the KCAC for scoring defense.
Eliserio began his coaching career at Dordt University in Sioux Center, Iowa. He spent the 2008 season as the Defensive Secondary Coach, where the Defenders ranked fifth in the country for Pass Defense.
During his coaching career, Eliserio has coached 50 All-Conference Selections and 5 All-Americans as well as one Cliff Harris Award Finalist in 2019.
He played quarterback at Eastern Arizona College, helping lead the team to its first winning season in 30 years. He then played defensive back at Sterling College, where he was the Warrior Award Recipient, an All-KCAC selection, and a participant in the 2008 Senior Bowl.
Eliserio earned his Bachelor's degree in Exercise Science from Sterling College and holds a Master's degree in Education and Sports Administration from East Central University.
A native of Phoenix, Arizona, Eliserio prepped at Moon Valley High School where he was an All-Conference quarterback, team captain and passing record holder for the Rockets.
Eliserio is married to Dawn and they have two children: Grace and Bre.
