LAS CRUCES, N.M. – NM State officially announced Wednesday afternoon that John Cannova will be taking over the role as the Aggies' offensive line coach. Cannova most recently spent the last three seasons as the offensive line coach and run-game coordinator at Eastern Illinois.
 
"I'm fired up to join the program and work alongside Coach Sanchez," Cannova explained. "It's especially exciting to reconnect with Coach Yost—I know we can cook up something special on offense. I'm ready to hit the ground running and eager to join a staff that's as dedicated and talented as we have here in Las Cruces. Time to get to work!"
 
Cannova's move to Las Cruces marks a rekindling of former colleagues as Cannova also previously served on staff at both Texas Tech and Utah State with newly appointed NM State offensive coordinator, David Yost. Most notably, Cannova has coached nearly 20 all-conference honorees, including Freshman All-American Offensive Lineman Nic DiSanto just two years ago. Cannova also helped develop three future NFL players while at Texas Tech – coaching current Dallas Cowboys right tackle Terence Steele, 2021 NFL Draft pick Jack Anderson and 2022 NFL Draft selection Dawson Deaton.
 
At Eastern Illinois, Cannova (pronounced cah-NO-va) served on Chris Wilkerson's staff and was promoted to offensive run game coordinator in January 2024 after coaching two All-Big South-OVC Football selections in 2023 as Chad Strickland earned first team honors while Sebastian Pares collected second team honors.
 
In 2023, the Naperville, Ill., native coached an offensive line that blocked for running back MJ Flowers who finished as the runner-up for the Jerry Rice award – an award given to the most outstanding freshman player in FCS football. Flowers would also rush for nearly 1,000 yards in 2024 behind Cannova's group.
 
The 2023 Eastern Illinois squad also finished ranked 25^th in the FCS in passing offense. This would help the Panthers increased their win total from two wins in 2022 to eight wins and a No. 24 national ranking in 2023.
 
Prior to his stint Charleston, Ill., Cannova worked as an offensive graduate assistant coach at Texas Tech for three seasons (2019-21). There, he helped coach the offensive line and helped mentor nine All-Big 12 selections and assisted in coaching an offensive line that ranked in the top 35 in the FBS in fewest sacks allowed all three seasons, including ranking seventh in 2019. Cannova also gained valuable postseason experience as he served on staff for the Red Raiders in the 2021 Liberty Bowl.
 
From 2017-18, Cannova worked as an offensive graduate assistant coach at Utah State and helped develop six All-Mountain West honorees. During his time with the Aggies, Utah State ranked inside the top 30 in the FBS in total offense both seasons and finished the year ranked second in the nation in points per game in 2018. In 2018, the Utah State offensive line also ranked third in the nation in fewest sacks allowed among FBS teams
 
Utah State also achieved bowl eligibility in both 2017 and 2018 as they appeared in the New Mexico Bowl in 2018 in addition to playing in the 2017 Arizona Bowl – a game that Aggie fans are familiar with.
 
Cannova earned his start in coaching at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa, where he spent four seasons and coached seven all-conference selections while helping the Fighting Bees finish the 2015 season ranked No. 20 in the final NAIA poll.
 
He also played at North Central College where he was a starter on three CCIW Championship teams and helped the team advance to three NCAA Division III playoffs. There, he also earned CCIW All-Academic honors. Cannova obtained his bachelor's degree from North Central in 2014 and a master's degree from Texas Tech in 2020.