CHARLESTON, Ill. – On a night involving one of the oldest rivalries in America and the induction of the Eastern Illinois Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2015, EIU Athletics paid tribute to one of its all-time greats. Between the first and second quarters of the 104th Mid-America Classic between Eastern Illinois and Illinois State, EIU honored alumnus and former NFL head coach Mike Shanahan.
EIU unveiled a banner honoring the accomplishments of Shanahan as both a collegiate and NFL coach with the banner hanging alongside the retired number banners of Sean Payton and Tony Romo; and the banner honoring former head coach Bob Spoo.
Shanahan played football at Eastern Illinois in the early 1970's with an injury in spring practice ending his playing career. He began his coaching career shortly afterward with a stop at Eastern Illinois in 1978 as the Panthers offensive coordinator. During that season EIU won the NCAA Division II National Championship after going 1-10 the previous season. At the NFL level Shanahan was a successful assistant and head coach winning two Super Bowls with Denver Broncos and one as an assistant with the San Francisco 49ers. Shanahan won 170 games which ranks 12th all-time among NFL head coaches with stints with the Los Angeles Raiders, Denver Broncos and Washington Redskins.
"This is a great honor for Eastern Illinois and Panther Athletics to be able to recognize Coach Shanahan for his tremendous accomplishments as both a coach at Eastern Illinois and in the National Football League," said EIU Athletic Director
Tom Michael. "Coach Shanahan has had success as a coach at all levels of the game. He has been a great ambassador for Eastern Illinois starting with his days as a student-athlete through his crowning achievements of winning a National Championship at his alma mater and two Super Bowls with the Denver Broncos. EIU Athletics is excited that Coach Shanahan can be honored at this year's home opener against Illinois State, a night in which EIU will also honor some of its great former student-athletes for the 2015 Hall of Fame."
