** During the month of July, EIUPanthers.com will take a look back at 14 events, moments and players that helped shape the 2024-25 academic year. **

Eastern Illinois welcomed five new head coaches during the last academic year with several of them coaching during the 2024-25 season of competition and one ready to coach an official EIU contest for the first time later this fall.
 
Kristi Paulson was hired in July to lead the EIU softball program.  Later in the summer she was joined by husband Dan Paulson and the couple served as co-head coaches last season.  They found immediate success leading the softball team to the Ohio Valley Conference regular season championship, OVC Tournament title and program's second-ever NCAA Tournament appearance.   Kristi Paulson Hire Release  Dan Paulson Hire
 
Craig Toler took over the EIU men's and women's golf programs in early August.  He had some success during the course of the year with the two teams posting four team Top 10 tournament scoring performances.  In addition, Toler had one golfer post an individual Top 10 tournament scoring performance.  Toler Hire Release
 
Scott Teeters was hired in mid-August as the Panthers men's and women's swim head coach.  Teeters, a veteran coach at the collegiate level including NAIA National Championships, had success during the year with the EIU swimmers setting 12 individual or school relay records during the season.   Teeters Hire Release
 
Ruy Vaz was hired in mid-February to lead the EIU men's soccer program.  Vaz had a successful track record coaching at the junior college level which included national rankings, championship appearances and numerous players moving on to play in the collegiate ranks.  Vaz will coach his first official EIU match in August 2025.  Vaz Hire Release
 
Ryan Millar, a former US Olympic Gold Medalist, was hired as the Panthers volleyball coach in late February.  Millar will coach the volleyball program in its first contests later this fall, but did jump right in during the spring to coach the Panthers Beach Volleyball program.  Millar coached the team to its first-ever OVC Tournament win.  Millar Hire Release
 
In addition, EIU had several adjustments on its senior staff with Jenn King being hired as the Panthers Assistant AD for Academic Services/SWA, Dwight Rutledge hired as Assistant AD for Compliance, Amber May hired as Assistant AD for Development and Elliott Hansing hired as Assistant AD for Marketing & Fan Engagement.