** During the month of July, EIUPanthers.com will take a look back at 15 events, moments and players that helped shape the 2022-23 academic year. **
Eastern Illinois welcomed three new head coaches during the 2022-23 academic year with two hires happening late in the summer of 2022 prior to the fall semester and one following the completion of a fall season.
Josh Oakley, Johnathan Jordan and Dirk Bennett were all hired as head coaches with the Panthers athletic department.
Oakley was hired as the 11th head coach in EIU men's soccer program history in late June of 2022. He was an assistant coach at EIU in the early 2000's before going on to be the head coach at three different college programs. He won his first EIU match in September against Purdue Fort Wayne.
Jordan was hired as the ninth head coach in EIU swimming program history in August of 2022. He was previously the head coach at Lincoln College. In his first season the program broke six school records in the pool.
Bennett, a long-time assistant with the EIU women's soccer program and two-time graduate of EIU, was hired as the seventh head coach in program history in February of 2023. He will coach his first regular season match in August.
In addition volleyball head coach Sara Thomas added the duties of head coach for the beach volleyball program. Paul Jarzynka became the director of tennis serving now as the head coach for both the men's and women's programs, he was previously the men's head coach. Chris Wilkerson, hired in early 2022, coached his first season as the Panthers head football coach in the fall of 2022. James Baird was hired as the Panthers Assistant AD for Marketing & Fan Engagement.
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2022-23 EIU Athletics Year In Review
July 3 –
Mike Shanahan Returns To EIU
July 5 –
EIU Welcomes New Head Coaches
July 5 –
July 7 –
July 10 –
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