Since first fielding an intercollegiate program in 1899, Eastern Illinois has gone on to win six national championships in team sports. Five of those championships came at the NCAA Division II level while one in men's soccer came as an NAIA member. Quick recaps of the EIU's six National Championships are listed below. Individual National Champions in various sports are also listed below.
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.
INDIVIDUAL NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
Men's Golf
1972 - Gaylord Burrows - NAIA
Men's Track
1955 - Ray White, NAIA Long Jump
1967 - John Craft, NAIA Triple Jump
1969 - John Craft, NCAA College Division Triple Jump
1972 - Rodney Jackson, NCAA College Division 400 hurdles
1973 - Rodney Jackson, NCAA College Division 400 hurdles
1974 - Darrell Brown, NCAA Division II Long Jump
1975 - Toni Ababio, NCAA Division II Long Jump
1975 - Toni Ababio, NCAA Division II Triple Jump
1976 - Ed Hatch, NCAA Division II 400 Meter Dash
1979 - Robert Johnson, NCAA Division II 110 hurdles
1981 - Augustine Oruwari, NCAA Division II 110 hurdles
1988 - Jim Maton, NCAA Division I 800 meter run (Indoor)
1992 - Dan steele, NCAA Division I 400 hurdles
Men's Swimming & Diving
1973 - Bob Thomas, NCAA Division II 200 yard backstroke
1973 - Bob Thomas, NCAA Division II 400 yard IM
1973 - Jon Mayfield, NCAA Division II 200 yard breaststroke
1973 - NCAA Division II 400 yard medley (Bob Thomas, Jon Mayfield, Dan Cole, Dave Toler)
1974 - Bob Thomas, NCAA Division II 200 yard backstroke
1974 - Bob Thomas, NCAA Division II 400 yard IM
1974 - Jon Mayfield, NCAA Division II 200 yard breaststroke
1974 - NCAA Division II 400 yard medley (Bob Thomas, Jon Mayfield, Brian Forsberg, Dave Toler)
1975 - Jon Mayfield, NCAA Division II 200 yard breaststroke
Wrestling
1977 - Ed Torrejon, NCAA Division II 158 lbs.
1977 - Dave Klemm, NCAA Division II Heavyweight
1978 - Ralph McCausland, NCAA Division II 142 lbs.
1979 - Bob McGuinn, NCAA Division II 134 lbs.
1979 - Bob Holland, NCAA Division II 158 lbs.
1981 - Mark Gronowski, NCAA Division II 167 lbs.
