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) and competes at the NCAA Division I level including 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. Panther teams have won five NCAA national championships in three sports. The Panthers also won the 1969 NAIA men's soccer title.
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.
A member of the Ohio Valley Conference, Eastern Illinois University sponsors teams in ten men's and eleven women's NCAA sanctioned sports:
Notes
1981 NCAA Division II World Series Runner-Up.
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
NCAA Division I Tournament appearances (1992 and 2001).
All time tournament results
1978 Division II National Champion, 1980 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.
All time tournament results
NCAA Division II runners-up in 1978, 3rd in 1977, and 4th in 1974.
Stripped of 1981 Division I 3rd-place finish.
1969 – NAIA National Champion.
Team Championships:
1968 – NCAA College Division National Champions
1969 – NCAA College Division National Champions
1977 – NCAA Division II National Champions
Men's track and field
Team Championships (men's):
1974 – NCAA College Division National Champions
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 – 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
The Panther softball team has appeared in two Women's College World Series, in 1971 and 1974.
Tim Bogar, retired Major League Baseball infielder
Zach Borenstein (born 1990), baseball outfielder
Brad Childress, former head coach of the Minnesota Vikings
Henry Domercant, professional basketball player in Europe
Kevin Duckworth, former NBA All-Star forward
Jimmy Garoppolo, quarterback for the New England Patriots
Kyle Hill, professional basketball player in Europe
Matt Hughes, 2x NCAA All-American wrestler, former UFC Welterweight Champion
Marty Pattin, former MLB baseball pitcher for the California Angels, Seattle Pilots, Milwaukee Brewers, Boston Red Sox, and Kansas City Royals
Sean Payton, head coach of the New Orleans Saints
Kenny Robertson, 4x NCAA Division I qualifier for wrestling; current mixed martial artist for the UFC
Tony Romo, quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys
Micah Rucker, former wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs, and New York Giants; also played in the Arena Football League
Mike Russow, current mixed martial artist
Mike Shanahan, head coach of the Washington Redskins
Chris Szarka, retired Canadian Football League fullback
Pierre Walters, NFL linebacker for the Kansas City Chiefs
Jeff Gossett, former NFL punter for the LA/Oakland Raiders and 3 other NFL teams
Ted Petersen, retired NFL Offensive/Defensive tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns, and Indianapolis Colts
Matt Veach, current mixed martial artist
