Page 57 - Toledo Football Media Guide - 2012

THE COACHES 57

sistant Coaches

Eli Rasheed

Age: 40 (born June 12,1972)

Hometown: Indianapolis, IN

Alma Mater: Indiana ‘96

Coaching Experience:

2009-12 Toledo Defensive Line 2003-08 Florida Atlantic Defensive Tackles 2002 Venice (FL) High School Assistant Coach 2001 Booker (FL) High School Head Coach 1996-2000 Venice (FL) High School Defensive Line

Eli Rasheed

Defensive Line

Eli Rasheed has been an instrumental force in develop-ing the defensive line into one of the strongest units on the Rockets’ defense.

Now in his fourth season as UT’s defensive line coach, Rasheed has helped the Rockets’defensive line improve steadi-ly. Rocket opponents’ yards per rush average has decreased from 4.7 in 2009 to 4.0 in 2010 to to 3.9 last year, the lowest it’s been since 2006. At the same time, the Rockets’ tackles for loss numbers have increased from 58 to 68 to 78 over the last three seasons.

Under Rasheed’s guidance, defensive end T.J. Fatinikun has made All-MAC in each of the past two seasons. This young group, which saw six players set career highs in sacks in 2011, could be even more impressive this fall. Rasheed came to Toledo after spending six seasons as the defensive tackles coach at Florida Atlantic. Prior to that, he enjoyed a successful high school coaching career as an assistant at Venice (FL) High School and head coach at Booker (FL) High School.

Rasheed grew up in Indianapolis and played defensive line at Indiana University from 1991-95, participating in bowl games in 1991 and 1993. He began his coaching career at Venice (FL) High School, working as an as-sistant from 1996-2000 and again in 2002. He helped the Indians capture the Florida 5A state, regional and district championships in 2000 and 2002. Venice also captured the 1999 District Championship. In between his stints at Venice, Rasheed was the head coach at Booker (FL) High School, leading theTornadoes to a 6-5 record in 2001.

Rasheed joined Florida Atlantic’s staf in the 2003 season, helping the Owls to an 11-3 mark, a No. 13 ranking and a semifnals ap-pearance in the I-AA playofs. The Owls moved to I-A status in 2006, and Rasheed helped

mold a defensive line that keyed FAU’s back-to-back bowl victories in 2007 and 2008. In 2007, the Owls went 8-5 and defeated Memphis in the New Orleans Bowl, 44-27. In 2008, FAU posted a 7-6 record and posted a 24-21 win over Central Michigan in the Motor City Bowl.

Rasheed has coached two current NFL players and three defensive linemen who later played in the Canadian Football League.

Rasheed and his wife Caprice make their home in Toledo. They have fve children: Shanita, a senior at UT; Dezmen, who is in his third season as a football player at Wisconsin; Darius; Osha; and Tyra.