** During the month of July EIUpanthers.com will take a look back at 13 moments, events or performances that helped shape the 2014-15 school year. ** Eastern Illinois athletics once again had several coaches earn the top honor from the conference in their respective sport as two coaches were named the Ohio Valley Conference Coach of the Year.
Tom Akers led Eastern Illinois men's and women's track back to the top of the Ohio Valley Conference standings as the director of track and field earned his 40th OVC Coach of the Year honor picking up three such awards for the 2014-15 season. Akers led the Panthers to the OVC Women's Indoor Track Championship as he was named the OVC Coach of the Year for that performance. He was named the co-Coach of the Year on the men's side as EIU finished second at the Indoor Championship meet. During the outdoor season Akers coached the EIU men to the OVC Outdoor Track Championship earning his third OVC Coach of the Year Award for the season. During the indoor season, EIU Athletics celebrated the 20-year head coaching career of Akers at a special anniversary weekend celebration.
John Blackburn led the Eastern Illinois women's tennis program to one of its best finishes in school history. Blackburn earned OVC Coach of the Year honors for women's tennis as the Panthers posted a 7-3 OVC record to tie for fourth in the league standings. EIU won its opening match in the OVC Tournament beating SIU Edwardsville, 4-3, before losing in the semifinals. Blackburn became the first EIU coach to win Coach of the Year honors in women's tennis.
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