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

For the first time since being started in 1982 the Eastern Illinois Athletic Department inducted teams into its Athletic Hall of Fame.  The first team induction took place for the Class of 2024 as nine historic teams were the first to be inducted during the 2024 EIU Athletic Hall of Fame ceremony on Friday, September 27 at Groniger Arena.
 
The teams inducted include the Panthers six national championship teams along with three AIAW era women's teams that each advanced deep into their respective national tournaments.   Listed below is quick information on each of the teams that were inducted including the 1968 Men's Cross Country, 1969 Men's Cross Country, 1969 Men's Soccer, 1974 Men's Outdoor Track & Field, 1977 Men's Cross Country, 1978 Football, 1980 Volleyball, 1981 Women's Basketball and 1982 Softball teams.
 
1968 Men's Cross Country
Under legendary coach Maynard "Pat" O'Brien, Eastern Illinois won its first national championship of any kind as the Panthers claimed the NCAA College Division National Championship held in Wheaton, Ill.  The Panthers scored 99 points to win the championship by 31 points over runner-up Minnesota State Mankota.  MIT was the third place finisher followed by Western Illinois and UC Davis.  The Panthers top finisher was Larry Mayse who finished in 7th place with a time of 25:37.

1969 Men's Cross Country
The Panthers successfully defended their 1968 National Championship in 1969 as O'Brien again coached EIU to a dominating defense.  The Panthers scored 84 points to out-distance runner-up Eastern Michigan by 62 points.  Cal State Chico was third followed by Illinois State and Humboldt State.  The championship again held in Wheaton, Ill., featured top performances by Marty McIntire (3rd overall) and Dike Stirrett (4th overall).

1969 Men's Soccer
It what proved to be a banner year for men's sports at EIU, the Panthers soccer team under the guidance of head coach Fritz Teller captured the NAIA National Championship ending the year with a 13-2-1 record.  EIU ended the season with four consecutive shutouts including a 1-0 win over Davis and Elkins in the National Championship match.  Freshman Gerardo Pagnani scored the only goal in the championship knocking home the national championship winner in the waning minutes of overtime.

1974 Men's Outdoor Track
Holding serve on its home track, Eastern Illinois won its fourth school national championship as the Panthers won NCAA College Division National Championship at Lincoln Stadium (now O'Brien Stadium) in Charleston.  The Panthers scored 51 points to edge Norfolk State and Cal Poly in the team standings.  The team was coached by Maynard "Pat" O'Brien giving him his third national championship at EIU.  Darrell Brown was the only EIU athlete to place first at the national meet winning the long jump with a leap of 25'07.25" feet.

1977 Men's Cross Country
Under head coach Dr. Tom Woodall, EIU returned to the national championship stage in cross country winning the title by one of the largest margins in NCAA history.  EIU scored just 32 points as four runners placed in the Top 14 lead by Joe Sheeran in second place and Casey Reinking in fifth.  The Panthers nearest challenger was South Dakota State with 151 points, a 119 point difference.  Indiana University of Pennsylvania and Minnesota State Mankota were tied for third.

1978 Football
A Cinderella story if there ever was one... The EIU football thought to be on its death bed and fighting not be eliminated as an intercollegiate sport made its first foray into the NCAA playoffs it's most memorable.  Under first year head coach Darrell Mudra, EIU went from a 1-10 program in 1977 to a 12-2 team in 1978.  Poke Cobb rushed for 101 yards and a touchdown early in the fourth quarter and Delaware kicker Brandt Kennedy missed a 45-yard field goal with nine seconds left as EIU won 10-9.  The defense held the Blue Hens vaunted Wing-T offense to only 155 yards rushing while linebacker Ray Jeske made 21 tackles in the game.

1980 Volleyball
The EIU volleyball team made the Panthers first splash on the national stage as a women's team when they posted a school record 43 wins advancing to the AIAW Division II National Tournament.  Under second year head coach Lynette Nevins, the Panthers received an at-large berth at the Midwest AIAW Tournament and then locked up an at-large bid to the National Tournament.  The team would go 1-2 in pool play with a win over College of Charleston before loses to Central Florida and eventual national runner-up Hawai'i Hilo.  The program would transition to the NCAA Division I level two seasons later winning 36 matches in their inaugural NCAA season.

1981 Women's Basketball
The EIU women's basketball program caught fire in the latter part of the 1981 season as they won 18 of 19 games including capturing the Illinois AIAW Tournament Championship as they earned an at-large berth to the AIAW National Tournament.  The Panthers won three straight games to win the IAIAW Championship and then placed second at the Midwest AIAW Regional.  Earning an at-large tournament berth, EIU beat Colorado College in the opening round of the tournament 77-69 before losing to William Penn in the Elite Eight round.  EIU finished the season with 25-8 overall record under the direction of head coach Barbara Hilke.

1982 Softball
In the final year of AIAW membership the EIU softball team made the deepest national tournament run by a Panthers women's team as they posted a school record 45 wins as they finished third in the nation.  Head coach Deanna D'Abbraccio led the team through the loser bracket which included a 21-inning win over Portland State to get the consolation bracket final.  EIU would lose that game bringing home the 3rd place national finish.  At the World Series EIU picked up an opening round win over Central State before losing to eventual national champion Northern Iowa.  EIU added elimination game wins over Ithaca College, Nicholls, Nevada and Portland State before being eliminated by SIUE.
 

2024-25 Year In Review
No. 14 - EIU Hires Five New Head Coaches
No. 13 – EIU Beach Volleyball Wins First-Ever OVC Tournament Match 
No. 12 - Baseball Wins Longest Game In OVC History
No. 11 - Cooper Willman Sets EIU Single Game Receiving Record