** During the month of July EIUpanthers.com will take a look back at 13 moments, events or performances that helped shape the 2015-16 school year. **
Eastern Illinois Athletics welcomed five new head coaches to its staff during the 2015-16 season. Sam Wolinski took over the volleyball program bringing previous head coaching experience with her from Rhodes College. The Panthers other four head coaches were in that role for the first time in their careers.
Kiki Lara was hired to lead the men's soccer program.
Jason Anderson was hired to coach the baseball program.
Emily Wang took over as the head women's tennis coach.
Sam Kercheval took over coaching the men's tennis program.
Wolinski made an immediate impact with the volleyball team leading the Panthers to a tie for second in the Ohio Valley Conference. The Panthers had two players earn All-OVC honors. Since taking over the program Wolinski added the role of Senior Woman Administrator to her duties in the spring.
Lara took over a young men's soccer team and had the program see early success during the season. He had three players earn All-Summit League honors. In the spring Lara became the director of soccer and now directs both the EIU men's and women's soccer programs.
Anderson had the Panthers playing well at the end of the season as the baseball program closed out the season winning seven of their last nine games including a season ending series sweep of rival SIU Edwardsville. He had one player earn All-OVC honors.
Wang had the Panthers women's tennis team in contention for the OVC title all season as the program won 14 matches including seven in the OVC. The Panthers advanced to the semifinals of the OVC Tournament and had two players earn All-OVC honors.
Kercheval had some early season success with the men's tennis program. The Panthers carried one of the top team GPA's in the EIU department with Robert Skolik earning Academic All-American honors. Kercheval had one player earn All-OVC honors.
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