CHARLESTON, Ill. – A familiar face will be returning to the Eastern Illinois football program as former offensive coordinator Roy Wittke will take over as the Panthers director of football operations on first year head coach Dino Babers staff. 

Wittke served two stints as the Panthers offensive coordinator under former head coach Bob Spoo and was responsible for tutoring current Dallas Cowboys All-Pro quarterback Tony Romo when he won the 2002 Walter Payton Award.  That season Wittke was named the AFCA FCS Assistant Coach of the Year.  All together he was the Panthers offensive coordinator for 17 seasons (1990-2002 & 2008-11). 

“I am thrilled to be able to retain Roy Wittke as Director of Football Operations,” athletic director Barbara Burke said.  “This adds another dimension to our staff and to able to have someone of Roy's character and knowledge of the game is critical to our football program's ongoing success.”

Babers was hired as the Panthers 22nd head coach on Dec. 9, 2011 replacing long time coach Bob Spoo.  Babers was an assistant coach on Spoo's first staff in 1987.  He completed his coaching staff in mid-January and signed his first recruiting class with the addition of 11 players in early February.

The Panthers will open the 2012 season on Thursday, August 30 against Southern Illinois.