Eastern Illinois Director of Athletics Tom Michael has announced the hiring of James Gildon as the new Director of Track and Field for the Panthers. He becomes the fifth director of track & field in the program's NCAA Division I history. Gildon will begin at EIU on August 28.
"Eastern Illinois has a long tradition of success in the sport of track and field. In his coaching career James Gildon has also had success in developing student-athletes that excel not only on the track but also in the classroom," said Michael. "We are excited to welcome James, his wife Jennifer and his family to EIU. James will continue to build a culture reflective of the successes of the student-athletes in the track program while they prepare to be successful after they graduate from EIU."
Gildon comes to EIU following a successful stint as the associate head coach at Bowling Green where he has worked since the 2013 season specifically coaching the jump, sprint and hurdle group.
"I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to lead a program such as Eastern Illinois. EIU has a rich tradition of success on and off the track and I am eager to get started working with the administration, staff, and student-athletes," said Gildon. "I'd like to thank Dr. Gatrell, Tom Michael, Mark Bonnstetter and the rest of the search committee for entrusting me in this role. Last, but not least I'd like to thank my wife and children for their unwavering support throughout this process. Go Panthers!"
In the last three seasons at Bowling Green, Gildon has coached four athletes that have gone on to compete at the NCAA East Regionals in the 100 meter, 400 meter and triple jump events. This past summer two of his athletes qualified and competed in the USATF U20 Championships in the triple jump and 100 meter hurdles.
During his nearly ten years on staff at BGSU, Gildon has coached 17 Mid-American Conference Champions, 11 NCAA Regional Qualifiers and four USATF Junior Nationals Qualifiers. His athletes have set 23 school records with 106 all-time Top Ten Performances.
Prior to coming to Bowling Green, Gildon coached at Fort Hays State (2008-12) where he coached two national champions, nine NCAA All-Americans, 24 national qualifiers, nine conference champions and two Academic All-Americans.
He produced at least one NCAA Division II All-American in four consecutive seasons with his athletes setting four school records. In total 19 of his athletes ranked in the top five for various school records including the top five women's long jumpers in school history. He also coached three of the school's top five triple jumpers.
Gildon began his coaching career at the high school level working at Creighton Prep High School in Omaha, Neb, from 2005-07. While in charge of the horizontal and vertical jumps, he coached 20 Nebraska Sate Athletic Association qualifiers and 17 athletes to All-State honors.
Originally from Omaha, Neb., Gildon competed in track and field at Loyola Chicago ranking in the school's top five for both the indoor and outdoor long jump and triple jump. He was a six-time Horizon League All-Conference performer while competing primarily in jumps but also in short sprints and relays.
He earned his bachelor's degree from Nebraska Omaha in 2007 and completed a master's degree in 2009 from Fort Hays State.
He and his wife Jennifer have two children.
EIU has won 62 Ohio Valley Conference Indoor & Outdoor Track and Field/Cross Country championships including sweeping the OVC Cross Country Championships last year and winning the OVC Men's Indoor Track Championship.
