PHILADELPHIA – Eastern Illinois head football coach Dino Babers has been announced as one of twenty finalists for the Sports Network Eddie Robinson FCS Coach of the Year.  Babers turned the Panthers program around in his first season leading EIU to a 7-4 record and Ohio Valley Conference regular season championship.

Babers was an assistant coach at Baylor most recently before taking over the Panthers program in December of 2011.  He replaced long time EIU head coach Bob Spoo who had hired Babers as a member of his first EIU staff in 1987.  Babers has transformed the Panthers offense as EIU ranks in the top seven nationally in scoring offense, passing offense and total offense this season.  EIU posted a 6-1 record in the OVC and finished the season ranked No. 25 in the Sports Network poll.   The Panthers will be making their 14th FCS playoff appearance this weekend playing on Saturday at South Dakota State.

EIU's also features two finalists on this year's Walter Payton Award list with wide receiver Erik Lora and quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.  Lora set the FCS single season receptions record on Saturday with 124 catches.  He leads the nation in receptions and receiving yards.  Garoppolo has passed for more than 3,600 yards and 31 touchdowns this season.