Eastern Illinois Panthers

The Eastern Illinois Panthers are the intercollegiate athletic programs of Eastern Illinois University (EIU) located in Charleston, Illinois, United States. The Panthers athletic program is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC)^[2] and competes at the NCAA Division I^[3] level in the Football Championship Subdivision. EIU's colors are blue and gray. Selected as the team mascot in 1930, EIU's panther was informally known as "Billy" for many years and was officially named "Billy the Panther" in 2008.^[4] Panther teams have won five NCAA national championships in three sports.^[5] The Panthers also won the 1969 NAIA men's soccer title.^[6]

Eastern Illinois Panthers
University	Eastern Illinois University
Conference	Ohio Valley Conference (primary) Summit League (Swimming & diving) Horizon League (Men's tennis)
NCAA	Division I (FCS)
Athletic director	Tom Michael
Location	Charleston, Illinois
Varsity teams	21 (10 men's and 11 women's)
Football stadium	O’Brien Field
Basketball arena	Lantz Arena
Baseball stadium	Coaches Stadium at Monier Field
Softball stadium	Williams Field
Soccer stadium	Lakeside Soccer Field
Mascot	Billy the Panther
Nickname	Panthers
Fight song	Eastern State March
Colors	Blue and gray[1]
Website	www.eiupanthers.com

History

Ohio Valley Conference logo in Eastern Illinois colors

Eastern Illinois athletics began in the school's very first year, with the inaugural football team taking the field only three weeks after the first students arrived on campus in 1899.^[7]

Eastern Illinois was a member of the Interstate Intercollegiate Athletic Conference from 1912 to 1970. From 1978 to 1982 they were members of the Mid-Continent Athletic Association which was absorbed by the Association of Mid-Continent Universities later known as the Mid-Continent Conference now the Summit League till 1996. In 1996 they joined the Ohio Valley Conference which is their current conference.

A member of the Ohio Valley Conference since 1996, Eastern Illinois University sponsors teams in ten men's and eleven women's NCAA sanctioned sports.^[8] The Panthers' men's and women's swimming teams compete as associate members of the Summit League since those sports are not sponsored by the OVC. The men's soccer team also competed in the Summit League before the OVC launched a men's soccer league for the 2023 season (2023–24 school year). The OVC merged its men's tennis league into that of the Horizon League after the 2021–22 school year, with all OVC teams in that sport, including Eastern Illinois, becoming Horizon associates.^[9]

Sports sponsored

Men's sports	Women's sports
Baseball	Basketball
Basketball	Beach volleyball
Cross country	Cross Country
Football	Golf
Golf	Soccer
Soccer	Softball
Swimming and diving	Swimming and diving
Tennis	Tennis
Track and field†	Track and field†
	Volleyball
† – Track and field includes both indoor and outdoor

Baseball

Main article: Eastern Illinois Panthers baseball

• 1973 NCAA Division II World Series Third Place.
• 1978 NCAA Division II World Series Fifth Place.
• 1981 NCAA Division II World Series Runner-Up.^[10]

The Panther baseball team has appeared in three NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, in 1999, 2008, and 2023.

Basketball

Men's basketball

Main article: Eastern Illinois Panthers men's basketball

• NAIA tournament appearances (6) 1947, 1949, 1950, 1952, 1953, 1957. With a combined record of 7–7. Highest finish, 4th: 1957.
• NCAA Division II tournament appearances each year from 1975 to 1980. Highest finish, 3rd: 1976 and 1978.
• NCAA Division I tournament appearances (1992 and 2001).
• All time tournament results^[11]

Year	Seed	First Round Winner		First Round Loser
1992	15	Indiana	94	Eastern Illinois	55
2001	15	Arizona	101	Eastern Illinois	76

Women’s basketball

Main article: Eastern Illinois Panthers women's basketball

• NCAA Division I tournament appearance 1988.

Year	Seed	First Round Winner		First Round Loser
1988	10	Colorado	78	Eastern Illinois	72

Men's cross country

Team Championships:

• 1968 – NCAA College Division National Champions
• 1969 – NCAA College Division National Champions
• 1977 – NCAA Division II National Champions

National Finishes:

• 1971 – NCAA Division II Fifth Place
• 1972 – NCAA Division II Seventh Place
• 1973 – NCAA Division II Third Place
• 1974 – NCAA Division II Third Place
• 1975 – NCAA Division II Third Place
• 1976 – NCAA Division II Third Place
• 1978 – NCAA Division II Fifth Place
• 1979 – NCAA Division II Third Place

Football

Main article: Eastern Illinois Panthers football

• 1978 Division II National Champion
• 1980 Division II National Runner-Up.
• NCAA Division I Football Championship tournament appearances: 1982, 1983, 1986, 1989, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2015.
• Conference Titles: 1912, 1913, 1914, 1928, 1948, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1986, 1995, 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2013
• All time tournament results^[12]

Year	First Round Home Team		First Round Away Team		Second Round Home		Second Round Away		Quarterfinal Home		Quarterfinal Away
1982 OT	Eastern Illinois	16	Jackson Tigers	13					Tennessee State	20	Eastern Illinois	19
1983 2OT	Indiana State	16	Eastern Illinois	13
1986	Eastern Illinois	28	Murray State	21					Eastern Illinois	22	Eastern Kentucky	24
1989	Idaho	21	Eastern Illinois	38					Montana	25	Eastern Illinois	19
1995	Stephen F. Austin	34	Eastern Illinois	29
1996	Northern Iowa	21	Eastern Illinois	14
2000	Montana	45	Eastern Illinois	13
2001	Eastern Illinois	43	Northern Iowa	49
2002	Western Illinois	48	Eastern Illinois	9
2005	Eastern Illinois	6	Southern Illinois	21
2006	Eastern Illinois	13	Illinois State	24
2007	Southern Illinois	30	Eastern Illinois	11
2009	Southern Illinois	48	Eastern Illinois	7
2012	South Dakota State	58	Eastern Illinois	10
2013	Bye		Bye		Eastern Illinois	51	Tennessee State	10	Eastern Illinois	39	Towson	49
2015	Northern Iowa	53	Eastern Illinois	17

Men’s golf

National Finishes:^[13]

• 1969 - NAIA 4th Place
• 1972 - NAIA 8th Place

Individual National Champions:^[14]

• 1972 - Gaylord Burrows - NAIA

Soccer

Men's soccer

Main article: Eastern Illinois Panthers men's soccer

• 1969 – NAIA National Champion.
• NCAA Division II runners-up in 1979, 3rd in 1978, and 4th in 1974.
• Stripped of 1981 Division I 3rd-place finish.

Women’s soccer

The Panther women’s soccer team has appeared in four NCAA Division I Women's Soccer tournaments in 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004.^[15]

Softball

The Panther softball team appeared in two AIAW Women's College World Series, in 1971 and 1974.^[16] They reached their first NCAA Division I softball tournament in 2023.

Men’s swimming and diving

National Finishes:

• 1975 - NCAA Division II 3rd Place

Individual National Champions:^[17]

• 1973 - Bob Thomas, NCAA Division II 200 yard backstroke
• 1973 - Bob Thomas, NCAA Division II 400 yard IM
• 1973 - Jon Mayfield, NCAA Division II 200 yard breaststroke
• 1973 - NCAA Division II 400 yard medley (Bob Thomas, Jon Mayfield, Dan Cole, Dave Toler)
• 1974 - Bob Thomas, NCAA Division II 200 yard backstroke
• 1974 - Bob Thomas, NCAA Division II 400 yard IM
• 1974 - Jon Mayfield, NCAA Division II 200 yard breaststroke
• 1974 - NCAA Division II 400 yard medley (Bob Thomas, Jon Mayfield, Brian Forsberg, Dave Toler)
• 1975 - Jon Mayfield, NCAA Division II 200 yard breaststroke

Track and field

Main article: Eastern Illinois Panthers track and field

Team Championships (men's):

• 1974 – NCAA Division II Outdoor National Champions
• 1976 — NCAA Division II Outdoor National Runner-up

Individual Champions:

• 1955 – Ray White, NAIA Long Jump
• 1967 – John Craft, NAIA Triple Jump
• 1969 – John Craft, NCAA College Division Triple Jump
• 1972 – Rodney Jackson, NCAA College Division 400 hurdles
• 1973 – Rodney Jackson, NCAA College Division 400 hurdles
• 1974 – Darrell Brown, NCAA Division II Long Jump
• 1975 – Toni Ababio, NCAA Division II Long Jump
• 1975 – Toni Ababio, NCAA Division II Triple Jump
• 1976 – Ed Hatch, NCAA Division II 400 Meter Dash
• 1979 – Robert Johnson, NCAA Division II 110 hurdles
• 1981 — 4x400 Relay, Women’s Track & Field AIAW II
• 1981 – Augustine Oruwari, NCAA Division II 110 hurdles
• 1988 – Jim Maton, NCAA Division I 800 meter run (Indoor)
• 1992 – Dan Steele, NCAA Division I 400 hurdles

Volleyball

The Eastern Illinois volleyball team has been the Ohio Valley Conference champions in 1998, co champions in 2004, and 2023. The volleyball team has made two NCAA Division I women's volleyball tournament appearances in 2001 and 2023.^[18]

Athletic facilities

Current facilities

Facilities are housed on the west side of the EIU campus between 4th Street and Grant Avenue.^[19]

• Coaches Stadium at Monier Field — Baseball
• Darling Courts — Men's and women's tennis
• Lakeside Field — Men's and women's soccer
• Lantz Arena — Men's and women's basketball, Volleyball
• Lantz Field House — Men's and women's indoor track and field
• O’Brien Field — Football, Men's and women's outdoor track and field
• Ray Padovan Pool — Men's and women's swimming and diving
• Tom Woodall Panther Trail — Men's and women's cross country
• Williams Field — Softball

Men's and women's golf practice at four local courses including Charleston Country Club, Mattoon Country Club, Meadowview Golf Course and Bent Tree Golf Course.^[20]

Former facilities

• Pemberton Hall — Men’s Basketball
• McAfee Gymnasium — Men’s Basketball
• Schahrer Field — Football (1899–1948)^[21][22]

Club and intramural facilities

• Student Rec Center — Intramural sports

Notable former athletes

Baseball

• Tim Bogar, retired Major League Baseball infielder
• Zach Borenstein (born 1990), baseball outfielder
• Randy Myers, former American Major League Baseball pitcher with the New York Mets, Cincinnati Reds, San Diego Padres, Chicago Cubs, Baltimore Orioles and the Toronto Blue Jays between 1985 and 1998. 4x MLB All-Star.
• Marty Pattin, former MLB baseball pitcher for the California Angels, Seattle Pilots, Milwaukee Brewers, Boston Red Sox, and Kansas City Royals
• Stan Royer, MLB baseball player for the St. Louis Cardinals and Boston Red Sox^[23]
• Kevin Seitzer, retired all-star Major League Baseball player^[24]

Basketball

• Henry Domercant, former professional basketball player in Europe
• Kevin Duckworth, former NBA All-Star forward
• Kyle Hill, former professional basketball player in Europe
• Jay Taylor, former NBA player for the New Jersey Nets

Football

• Brad Childress, former head coach of the Minnesota Vikings
• Jimmy Garoppolo, quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders
• Jeff Gossett, former NFL punter for the LA/Oakland Raiders and 3 other NFL teams
• Kamu Grugier-Hill, linebacker for the Miami Dolphins
• Alexander Hollins, wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings
• John Jurkovic, former NFL Defensive tackle for the Green Bay Packers and Jacksonville Jaguars
• Tim Kelly offensive coordinator for the Houston Texans
• Ray McElroy, former NFL Cornerback for the Indianapolis Colts and Chicago Bears
• Sean Payton, head coach of the Denver Broncos and winner of Super Bowl XLIV
• Ted Petersen, retired NFL Offensive/Defensive tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns, and Indianapolis Colts
• Tony Romo, former quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys and now a sportscaster
• Micah Rucker, former wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs, and New York Giants; also played in the Arena Football League
• Mike Shanahan, former head coach of the Los Angeles Raiders, Denver Broncos and Washington Redskins and 3 times Super Bowl winner.
• Chris Szarka, retired Canadian Football League fullback
• Pierre Walters, former NFL linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs

Handball

• Tim Dykstra, former handball player who competed in the 1984 Summer Olympics.^[25]

MMA

• Matt Hughes, 2x NCAA All-American wrestler, former UFC Welterweight Champion
• Kenny Robertson, 4x NCAA Division I qualifier for wrestling; current mixed martial artist for the UFC
• Mike Russow, current mixed martial artist
• Matt Veach, current mixed martial artist

Rugby

• Lauren Doyle, represented the United States of America for Rugby sevens at the 2016 Summer Olympics

Soccer

• Schellas Hyndman, former head coach of soccer's FC Dallas^[26]
• Matt Bobo, former North American Soccer League player
• John Baretta, former North American Soccer League goalkeeper
• George Gorleku, former Major Indoor Soccer League (1978–92) player
• LeBaron Hollimon, former National Professional Soccer League (1984–2001) player
• Damien Kelly, former National Professional Soccer League (1984–2001) player
• Mark Simpson, former goalkeeper and assistant coach for D.C. United
• Jason Thompson, former player for D.C. United
• Glen Tourville, former Major Indoor Soccer League (1978–92) player

Track

• John Craft, placed 5th in the Men’s triple jump at the 1972 Summer Olympics
• Sandy Osei-Agyemang, advanced to the second round in the Men's 100 metres and Men's 4 × 100 metres relay at the 1972 Summer Olympics
• Dan Steele, track All-American, 400-meter National Champion, and Bronze Medalist at the 2002 Winter Olympics^[27]
• Darrin Steele, competed at the 1998 Winter Olympics and the 2002 Winter Olympics^[28]

References

1. "EIU BRANDING, MARKETING & LOGOS". Retrieved January 1, 2024.
2. "OVC Member Institutions". Ohio Valley Conference. Retrieved September 3, 2015.
3. "Eastern Illinois University". NCAA. Retrieved September 3, 2015.
4. "EIU Panther Mascot". Eastern Illinois University Athletics. Retrieved September 3, 2015.
5. "EIU National Championships". Eastern Illinois University Athletics. Retrieved September 3, 2015.
6. "Men's Soccer Championship Records" (PDF). National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics. Retrieved September 3, 2015.
7. "History". Eastern Illinois University Athletics. Retrieved September 3, 2015.
8. "FB_familyweekend_2014". Retrieved September 19, 2014.
9. "Horizon League Announces Innovative Partnership with Ohio Valley Conference and Men's Tennis Programs, Adds Chicago State as an Affiliate Member for Men's and Women's Tennis" (Press release). Horizon League. July 6, 2022. Retrieved July 9, 2022.
10. "Eastern Illinois Panthers - Turn Back the Clock Tuesday - May 16, 1981". Retrieved 19 September 2014.
11. Archived September 30, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
12. "Eastern Illinois Panther Football : Panthers - Salukis Meet For Third Time In Five Years EIU Opens FCS Plays At Southern Illinois" (PDF). Eiupanthers.com. Retrieved 2015-04-23.
13. "Eastern Illinois Men's Golf Record Book" (PDF). Retrieved April 30, 2019.
14. "EIU Individual National Champions". Retrieved April 30, 2019.
15. "EIU Women's Soccer Record Book" (PDF). p. 4. Retrieved April 30, 2019.
16. Plummer, William; Floyd, Larry C. (2013). A Series Of Their Own: History Of The Women's College World Series. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, United States: Turnkey Communications Inc. ISBN 978-0-9893007-0-4.
17. "EIU National Championships". Retrieved April 30, 2019.
18. "EIU Volleyball Record Book" (PDF). p. 57. Retrieved April 26, 2019.
19. "Eastern Illinois Athletic Facilities" (PDF). Eastern Illinois Panthers. p. 3. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
20. "Eastern Illinois Facilities". Eastern Illinois Panthers. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
21. "Buildings and Grounds of EIU". Eastern Illinois University. p. 35. Retrieved 15 March 2019.
22. "Nostalgia Surrounds O'Brien" (PDF). Eastern Illinois University. Retrieved 16 March 2019.^{[permanent dead link‍]}
23. "Stan Royer". Baseball Reference.com. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
24. "Kevin Seitzer". Baseball Reference.com. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
25. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Tim Dykstra". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved July 16, 2012.
26. "Schellas Hyndman". Southern Methodist University. Archived from the original on October 4, 2013. Retrieved October 3, 2013.
27. "Dan Steel". Journal Gazette and Times-Courier. Retrieved 3 October 2013.
28. Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Darrin Steele Olympic Results". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved April 30, 2018.

External links

• Official website