John Smith
Associate Athletic Director
Phone: 217-581-5831
Email:
jbsmith@eiu.edu
Position: Associate Athletic Director
Alma Mater: Wisconsin, 1974
Years at EIU: 21st year
John Smith has administered record levels of fund raising since being appointed Assistant Athletic Director for Development in August, 1997. He was promoted to Associate Athletic Director in 2002.
He is in charge of major gifts as well as major corporate sponsors. He oversees EIU’s facility enhancement program "Reach for the 21st Century". Between EIU’s corporate partnerships and "Reach for the 21st Century", the Athletics Department has raised in excess of $2 million. Nine fund drives which he coordinated have each set record totals of over $4 million. Smith chairs the Athletic External Relation Group and sits on the Panther Club Executive Board. He also supervises football and golf. Prior to entering administration,
Smith was assistant head football coach and defensive coordinator for the Panthers for 11 years (1987-97). His defenses consistently ranked in the ‘top 10’ nationally in several categories. He was also assistant head coach/defensive coordinator at both Western Illinois and Northeast Missouri.
Smith is a 1974 graduate of the University of Wisconsin where he played football four years, lettering three times. John has been married 34 years to his wife, Debbie. They have three daughters and one grandson.
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