Athletics
Eastern Illinois University's colors are blue and gray; the sports teams' mascot is the Panther. With the exception of the men's football and swimming teams, the teams participate in NCAA Division I (I-AA FCS for football) in the Ohio Valley Conference. The men's soccer program Missouri Valley Conference and the swim team competes in The Summit League; men's soccer competed in the Missouri Valley Conference from 1996-2010. The Eastern Football team is coached by Dino Barbers and competes at home in O'Brien Stadium. Eastern Illinois University was a member of the Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference from 1912-1970. Eastern Illinois University is one of two NCAA Division I institutions that offer women's rugby as a varsity sport.
Two current National Football League head coaches, Sean Payton of the New Orleans Saints and Mike Shanahan of the Washington Redskins, are alumni of Eastern Illinois. Brad Childress, head coach of the Minnesota Vikings from 2006-2010 is also a graduate, preceding Sean Payton at Eastern Illinois. Additionally, Tony Romo, the starting quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys, is an alumnus of the University, having been signed by Dallas on the advice of Payton, then an assistant coach for the team.
Eastern Illinois is also the host of the IHSA Boys and Girls State Track and Field Finals, which have been held at O'Brien Stadium since the 1970s.
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