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:
Notes1981 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 1980NCAA Division I Tournament appearances (1992 and 2001).All time tournament results1978 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 resultsNCAA 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 Champions1969 – NCAA College Division National Champions1977 – NCAA Division II National ChampionsMen's track and field
Team Championships (men's):
1974 – NCAA College Division National ChampionsIndividual Champions:
1955 – Ray White, NAIA Long Jump1967 – John Craft, NAIA Triple Jump1969 – John Craft, NCAA College Division Triple Jump1972 – Rodney Jackson, NCAA College Division 400 hurdles1973 – Rodney Jackson, NCAA College Division 400 hurdles1974 – Darrell Brown, NCAA Division II Long Jump1975 – Toni Ababio, NCAA Division II Long Jump1975 – Toni Ababio, NCAA Division II Triple Jump1976 – Ed Hatch, NCAA Division II 400 Meter Dash1979 – Robert Johnson, NCAA Division II 110 hurdles1981 – Augustine Oruwari, NCAA Division II 110 hurdles1988 – Jim Maton, NCAA Division I 800 meter run (Indoor)1992 – Dan Steele, NCAA Division I 400 hurdlesThe Panther softball team has appeared in two Women's College World Series, in 1971 and 1974.
Tim Bogar, retired Major League Baseball infielderZach Borenstein (born 1990), baseball outfielderBrad Childress, former head coach of the Minnesota VikingsHenry Domercant, professional basketball player in EuropeKevin Duckworth, former NBA All-Star forwardJimmy Garoppolo, quarterback for the New England PatriotsKyle Hill, professional basketball player in EuropeMatt Hughes, 2x NCAA All-American wrestler, former UFC Welterweight ChampionMarty Pattin, former MLB baseball pitcher for the California Angels, Seattle Pilots, Milwaukee Brewers, Boston Red Sox, and Kansas City RoyalsSean Payton, head coach of the New Orleans SaintsKenny Robertson, 4x NCAA Division I qualifier for wrestling; current mixed martial artist for the UFCTony Romo, quarterback for the Dallas CowboysMicah Rucker, former wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs, and New York Giants; also played in the Arena Football LeagueMike Russow, current mixed martial artistMike Shanahan, head coach of the Washington RedskinsChris Szarka, retired Canadian Football League fullbackPierre Walters, NFL linebacker for the Kansas City ChiefsJeff Gossett, former NFL punter for the LA/Oakland Raiders and 3 other NFL teamsTed Petersen, retired NFL Offensive/Defensive tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns, and Indianapolis ColtsMatt Veach, current mixed martial artist
