The Eastern Illinois Panthers are the intercollegiate athletic programs of Eastern Illinois University (EIU) located in Charleston, Illinois, United States. The Panthers athletic program competes at the NCAA Division I level and is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC). The football team is a member of the Division I FCS (formerly known as Division I-AA). 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. Panther teams have won five NCAA national championships in three sports. The Panthers also won the 1969 NAIA men's soccer title.
History 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.
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 nine men's and ten women's NCAA sanctioned sports. 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).
Sports sponsored Baseball Basketball Basketball Beach volleyball Cross country Cross Country Football Golf Golf Soccer Soccer Softball Swimming and diving Swimming and diving Track and field† Track and field† Volleyball 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. The Panther baseball team has appeared in three NCAA Division I Baseball Championship, in 1999, 2008, and 2023.
Basketball
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 Year Seed First Round Winner First Round Loser1992 15 Indiana 94 Eastern Illinois 552001 15 Arizona 101 Eastern Illinois 76
Women’s basketball
NCAA Division I tournament appearance 1988. Year Seed First Round Winner First Round Loser1988 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
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 Year First Round Home team First Round Away teamSecond Round HomeSecond Round Away Quarterfinal Home Quarterfinal Away1982 OT Eastern Illinois 16 Jackson Tigers 13 Tennessee State20Eastern Illinois 191983 2OT Indiana State 16 Eastern Illinois 13 1986 Eastern Illinois 28 Murray State 21 Eastern Illinois 22 Eastern Kentucky 241989 Idaho 21 Eastern Illinois 38 Montana 25Eastern Illinois 191995 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 Illinois51Tennessee State10 Eastern Illinois 39 Towson 492015 Northern Iowa 53 Eastern Illinois 17
Men’s golf National Finishes: 1969 - NAIA 4th Place 1972 - NAIA 8th Place Individual National Champions: 1972 - Gaylord Burrows - NAIA
Soccer
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.
Softball The Panther softball team appeared in two AIAW Women's College World Series, in 1971 and 1974. 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: 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
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, 2023, and 2025. The volleyball team has made three NCAA Division I women's volleyball tournament appearances in 2001, 2023, and 2025.
Athletic facilities
Current facilities Facilities are housed on the west side of the EIU campus between 4th Street and Grant Avenue. Coaches Stadium at Monier Field — Baseball Lakeside Field — Men's and women's soccer Lantz Arena — Men's and women's basketball Lantz Field House — Men's and women's indoor track and field Linder Sports Complex — Beach volleyball McAfee Gym — Volleyball 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.
Former facilities Lakeside Rugby Field — Women’s Rugby (1999-2014) Pemberton Hall — Men’s Basketball McAfee Gymnasium — Men’s Basketball Rex Darling Tennis Courts — Men’s and Women’s Tennis (1931-2025) Schahrer Field — Football (1899–1948)
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 Kevin Seitzer, retired all-star Major League Baseball player
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.
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 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 Darrin Steele, competed at the 1998 Winter Olympics and the 2002 Winter Olympics
References
External links