CHARLESTON, Ill. - Eastern Illinois head football coach Bob Spoo has announced the hiring of Matthew Smiley as the Panthers new special teams coordinator after joining the staff on June 1. 

Smiley comes to Eastern Illinois following two seasons at Eureka College where he served one season as the offensive coordinator and one season as the defensive coordinator. In October of 2008 he was named interim head coach and preceded to win his first contest with a 47-19 win over Principia College. 

At Eureka, Smiley also oversaw the development of the Red Devils Special teams with the kickoff coverage team ranking No. 2 in NCAA Division III for least return yards allowed in 2007. During a two-year stint he coached eight All-SLIAC performers. 

Prior to coaching at Eureka, Smiley worked for two seasons as a special teams coach at Dartmouth College serving as the special teams coordinator in 2006. In 2007 the Big Green special teams blocked five kicks while improving in both kickoff and punt return yardage allowed. 

Smiley entered the coaching ranks as an undergraduate at Illinois serving as a student-assistant coach after being a walk-on wide receiver with the Fighting Illini. He graduated from Illinois in May 2001 and served in the United States Air Force as a first lieutenant in Grand Forks, North Dakota. While on active duty Smiley was deployed four times in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and received the USAF Commendation Medal for his efforts. 

While stationed in Grand Forks he also worked as the special teams/running backs coach at the University of North Dakota where he coached two All-American kickers in 2001 and 2003. 

Smiley also holds a masters degree from North Dakota. He is married to the former Marissa Bushue, a former record holder for the EIU women's track team in the long jump and triple jump. The couple have two daughters Madelyn and Ella.