Elon, N.C. – Elon University Football Coach Tony Trisciani has announced the hirings of Milo Austin and Casey Vance to his staff. Trisciani has also promoted Dovonte Edwards to defensive coordinator, among other staff changes.  
Austin's special teams units have regularly ranked among the nation's best. During the fall, his Texas Southern units ranked in the top 25 in punt return coverage, as well as third in the conference in punt returns. At Delaware State, Austin made an immediate impact with DSU's special teams as the Hornets ranked fourth or higher in four statistical categories in 2019. Placekicker Jose Romo-Martinez earned second team All-MEAC honors as a result while Jordan Hannah ranked second in the MEAC in kick return average with 23.3 yards per return.  
 
During the historic spring 2021 campaign, Austin's units once again performed at a high level as DSU blocked three punts with one returned for a touchdown. Romo-Martinez, who was also a preseason All-MEAC honoree, performed double duty as he averaged nearly 40 yards per punt in addition to nailing two field goals of 40-plus yards. Off the field, Austin represented DSU well as a high-profile speaker at the 2021 Virtual American Football Coaches Association Convention.
 
Austin joined the Delaware State football staff in March 2019 after three seasons at Morehead State in Kentucky. While at Morehead, he served as associate head coach (wide receivers) as well as co-special teams coordinator. He coached the slot receivers in 2015 and 2016. 
 
In 2015 and 2016, he coached Jake Raymond, an All-PFL slot receiver who became the all-time leading receiver at Morehead State and the career leader in catches in the PFL. 
 
His work with the receivers and special teams didn't go unnoticed as Austin was selected as the 2018 AFCA Football Championship Subdivision Assistant Coach of the Year in recognition of his commitment to student-athletes, community service, contributions to the AFCA and coaching excellence. 
 
Austin founded and ran the Full Focus Foundation, a youth life skills development program. He completed the Bill Walsh Minority Internship program with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2018 and St. Louis Rams in the summer of 2013, served as director of the football program at Camp Winadu in Massachusetts in the summer of 2012 and was the offensive and special teams coordinator at Lanphier High School during the 2011 season. 
 
Austin began his playing career as a cornerback at Division III Salisbury, where he was named Atlantic Central Football Conference Freshman of the Year in 2001. He was also the Eastern College Athletic Conference Eastern Region Freshman of the Year. 
 
He finished his career at West Virginia, where he was a wide receiver on the 2004 Big East Conference Championship team. 
 
Austin earned his bachelor's degree in athletic coaching education from West Virginia in 2006. He received his master's in sport administration in Dec. of 2020. 
 
Austin is engaged to Erica Parks and he has a daughter, Nevaeh. The couple is expecting a daughter, Noa, in February.  
The 2018 West Virginia team went 8-4 and played in the Camping World Bowl, while Vance helped the defense rank first in the Big 12 in takeaways per game and tackles for loss per game. The squad was also second in the conference in opponent's third down conversion percentage.
 
The defense continued to develop and the 2020 squad ranked fourth nationally in total defense, allowing 291 yards per game. That mark included the country's No. 1 ranked pass defense, giving up just 159 yards per contest.
 
As a graduate assistant with West Virginia during the 2016 season, the Mountaineers ranked No. 10 nationally in turnovers forced, first in the Big 12 in pass efficiency defense and second in the conference in scoring defense.
 
Prior to his time in Morgantown, W. Va., Vance was a defensive graduate assistant at Kentucky in 2015. He also served a short stint as a linebackers coach at Notre Dame College (Ohio) in the spring and summer of 2015. He broke into the coaching profession as a defensive graduate assistant at Arizona, serving in that capacity in 2013 and 2014. The 2014 squad went 10-4, won the PAC-12 South Division and received an invitation to the Fiesta Bowl. He coached linebacker Scooby Wright, who was the PAC-12 Defensive Player of the Year as well as the recipient of the Bednarik, Nagurski and Lombardi Awards.
 
Vance is a two-time graduate of West Virginia, earning his bachelor's degree in 2011 and his master's degree in 2013. As a linebacker with the Mountaineers, his squads compiled a 48-17 record, won three Big East championships, and won both the 2008 Fiesta Bowl and the 2012 Orange Bowl. He was a two-time All-Big East Academic Team honoree.
 
Vance is married to Keba and the couple has a daughter, Laken.  
Dovonte Edwards has been promoted to defensive coordinator and will also work with the defensive backs. He originally joined Elon in May of 2021 and was the defensive pass game coordinator and safeties coach during the fall. He mentored Cole Coleman to first team all-conference honors, leading the squad with 71 tackles and adding 4.0 tackles for loss, three forced fumbles and an interception. The team's other primary starting safety, Omar Rogers, had two interceptions and a forced fumble to go with 46 tackles.
 
Arketa Banks will move from the tight ends to coach cornerbacks in 2022. Led by senior Donovan Williams, the tight end unit made an impact in the passing game in 2021. Williams had 12 catches for 95 yards, including a touchdown reception against Maine to open the scoring in a 33-23 win. A pair of freshmen, Arthur Nwandu and Johncarlos Miller II, earned valuable playing time throughout the season. Miller II had his first career reception in the team's 43-28 win over No. 25 Rhode Island.
 
Seth Payne will remain the coach of the defensive line but will add the title of defensive run game coordinator. In the fall, he mentored a youthful defensive line anchored by senior captain Tristen Cox. The line contributed to seven of the team's 19 sacks and added 17.5 tackles for loss, 10 quarterback hurries and two fumble recoveries. The unit led the way in allowing just 44 rushing yards as Elon defeated No. 25 Rhode Island to conclude the season. Elon went 5-0 when allowing an opponent to rush for 120 yards or fewer.