Eastern Illinois University Athletics

Position: Assistant Coach / Safeties
Years at EIU:,2nd year
Alma Mater: Louisiana Monroe, 2009

James Truxillo is in his second season as an assistant coach at Eastern Illinois on head coach Kim Dameron’s staff., Truxillo coach the EIU huskies (safeties) position.

In his first season Truxillo coached a group that was led by first team All-OVC selection Jourdan Wickliffe. ,The group recorded eight of the Panthers 15 interceptions last season with Wickliffe leading the group with four. ,

Truxillo came to EIU following two seasons as a graduate assistant at Louisiana-Monroe where he helped coach the safeties in 2013 and the linebackers in 2012., He helped coach the program to its first bowl appearance as an FBS program as the Warhawks appeared in the 2012 Independence Bowl and also finished bowl eligible in 2013.

He was a four-year starter at safety at Louisiana-Monroe from 2006-09., Truxillo was a two-time permanent captain for the 2008 and 2009 seasons earning second team All-Sun Belt Conference honors as a senior., He was a nominee for the Danny Wuerffel Award for Academics, Athletics and Community in 2009.,

Truxillo played for then defensive coordinator Kim Dameron in 2006 & 2007 while being part of the team that upset the Alabama Crimson Tide and reached bowl eligibility for the first time in school history.

Off the field he was a first team Academic All-American graduating from Louisiana Monroe, Cum Laude, in 2009., He earned a master’s from ULM in Exercise Science in 2011 and just recently finished his second master’s degree in Education Technology Leadership in December 2013.