CHARLESTON, Ill. - Eastern Illinois University administration has announced that long time Panthers head football coach Bob Spoo will be returning for his 22nd season on the Charleston campus in 2008.
Spoo is EIU's career leader in wins with a record of 127-102-1 during 20 seasons on the sidelines. This season coach Spoo led Eastern Illinois to a third straight NCAA FCS playoff berth with an 8-4 record.
“Coach Spoo is a very well respected leader who consistently demonstrates a deep commitment to the academic and athletic development of our student-athletes," said Dan Nadler - EIU Vice President for Student Affairs. "We are pleased coach Spoo agreed to return as the leader of our nationally recognized Panther football program.”
A 1960 graduate of Purdue University, Spoo has been credited with coaching five quarterbacks who later started in the National Football League. Spoo also coached current Dallas Cowboys Pro Bowl quarterback Tony Romo from 1998-2002 as Romo was a three-time Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year and 2002 Walter Payton Award winner.
Spoo holds a 60-20 record in OVC games, the 60 wins tying him for second place on the conference wins list with Tennessee Tech's Don Wade. EIU has now made the FCS playoffs 12 times overall including six of the last eight seasons.
Spoo did miss the Panthers playoff game with Southern Illinois after having minor surgery following the Panthers regular-season finale against Samford. He has returned to the office this week as the Panther staff prepares to hit the recruiting trail.
