Elon University Athletics

Follow Coach Perri on Twitter: @CoachJoePerri

Recruiting Areas:

• North Carolina (Forsyth, Hickory, Cleveland, Gaston)
• York County to Allendale County
• Michigan
• Junior College players

Joe Perri joined the staff for the 2022 season as a defensive line assistant. He was named defensive line coach in February of 2024. A veteran coach, Perri brings experience to the Elon Phoenix. He will begin his third season in 2024.

In 2022, the defensive line flourished. Regularly rotating eight or more players on the line, Elon ranked 13^th nationally with 2.83 sacks per game (34 total). The Phoenix had 11 in a 27-3 win over UAlbany and the defensive line played a large role in the team’s ranking of No. 19 in the country in scoring defense (allowing just 21.3 points per game). Senior Torrence Williams was the anchor, being named fourth team All-CAA by Phil Steele, but youth shined also. True freshman Cazeem Moore had 4.0 sacks and 5.0 tackles for loss. Shon Brown, Marvin Pearson, Josh Johnson, Jake Louro, Marvion Field, and Chuck Nnaeto were some of the contributors who assisted in allowing just 131.6 yards per game on the ground, the fewest since 2009.
 
For the second consecutive year, the defense ranked among the top 20 nationally in quarterback sacks in 2023, averaging 2.55 per game. The Phoenix compiled as many as sevens sacks in a game, doing so against Campbell, and had at least one sack in 10-of-11 contests. Marvin Pearson led the Phoenix with 5.5 sacks and he earned first team all-conference recognition. Cazeem Moore added 3.0 sacks and Josh Johnson had 2.0 as well. Both Pearson and Moore added five quarterback hurries. As a team, Elon held five opponents to under 100 yards rushing, including just 98 against the ACC’s Wake Forest and a season-low 35 (on 25 carries) against Campbell.

Most recently, Perri spent the 2020 season as associate head coach and defensive coordinator at Alderson Broaddus. He was the defensive line coach at Saginaw Valley State from 2018-19. 

Prior to that, Perri spent time at Virginia Tech, serving as offensive and defensive assistant roles from 2013-16. He has also served on staffs at Bluefield College, the Denmark Hurricanes (Esbjerg), Western Michigan, Grand Rapids Community College, and Garden City Community College. He began his coaching career at his alma mater, Pittsburgh, serving as a player assistant and graduate assistant from 2005-08. 

Perri played at Pittsburgh from 2003-05, during which the Panthers played in both the 2003 Continental Tire Bowl and the 2004 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.

 

Coaching Experience
2005-07	Player Assistant, Pittsburgh
2007-08	Graduate Assistant (Offensive Line), Pittsburgh
2008	Offensive Line/Tight Ends/Run Game Coordinator, Garden City Community College
2009	Offensive Line, Grand Rapids Community College
2010-12	Quality Control (Assistant Offensive Line), Western Michigan
2012	Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator/Offensive Line, Denmark Hurricanes
2013	Offensive Line/Run Game Coordinator, Bluefield College
2013	Offensive Assistant, Virginia Tech
2014-16	Defensive Assistant, Virginia Tech
2018-19	Defensive Line, Saginaw Valley State
2020	Associate Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line, Alderson Broaddus
2022-23	Assistant Defensive Line, Elon
2024-present	Defensive Line, Elon