CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois University director of athletics Barbara Burke announced today that Panthers head football coach Bob Spoo would return for the 2009 season as the long-time EIU head coach met with members of the media on Tuesday afternoon.

“We are pleased to announce that Coach Spoo will be returning for his 22nd season at Eastern Illinois,” said Burke. “Coach Spoo has been the face of this program for many years and we are honored that he wants to continue to build on the success he has helped establish.”

Spoo, who has been the head coach at EIU since 1987, has a career record of 132-109-1 during 21 seasons as head coach. EIU has made six NCAA FCS playoff appearances since 2000 and nine total NCAA FCS playoff berths under Spoo. The 2008 team finished with a 5-7 record.

Spoo is currently the sixth longest tenured head coach at the same school in the NCAA Division I ranks trailing only Joe Paterno (at Penn State since 1966), Bob Ford (at Albany since 1973), Bobby Bowden (at Florida State since 1976), Andy Talley (at Villanova since 1985) and Frank Beamer (at Virginia Tech since 1987).

EIU kicks off the 2009 football season on Sept. 3 against Illinois State with one of the highlights of the season being an Oct. 10 game at Penn State.

2009 FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

Sept. 3 vs. ILLINOIS STATE
Sept. 12 at Indiana State
Sept. 19 * at Southeast Missouri
Sept. 26 * at Austin Peay
Oct. 3 * vs. EASTERN KENTUCKY (FW)
Oct. 10 at Penn State
Oct. 17 * vs. TENNESSEE TECH (HC)
Oct. 24 * at Jacksonville State
Oct. 31 * at Murray State
Nov. 7 OPEN DATE
Nov. 14 * vs. UT MARTIN
Nov. 21 * vs. TENNESSEE STATE
Nov. 28 FCS PLAYOFFS

* OVC Contest