Eastern Illinois Panthers | |
---|---|
University | Eastern Illinois University |
Conference | Ohio Valley Conference |
NCAA | Division I |
Athletic director | Tom Michael |
Location | Charleston, Illinois |
Varsity teams | 20 (10 men's and 10 women's) |
Football stadium | O'Brien Stadium |
Basketball arena | Lantz Arena |
Baseball stadium | Coaches Stadium at Monier Field |
Mascot | Billy the Panther |
Nickname | Panthers |
Colors | Blue and Gray |
Website | www |
The Eastern Illinois Panthers are the intercollegiate athletic programs of Eastern Illinois University (EIU) located in Charleston, Illinois, United States. The Panthers athletic program is a member of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) and competes at the NCAA Division I level including the Football Championship Subdivision. EIU's colors are blue and gray. Selected as the team mascot in 1930, EIU's panther, was informally known as "Billy" for many years and was officially named "Billy the Panther" in 2008. Panther teams have won five NCAA national championships in three sports. The Panthers also won the 1969 NAIA men's soccer title.
Eastern Illinois athletics began in the school's very first year, with the inaugural football team taking the field only three weeks after the first students arrived on campus in 1899.
A member of the Ohio Valley Conference, Eastern Illinois University sponsors teams in ten men's and ten women's NCAA sanctioned sports:
Team Championships:
Team Championships (men's):
Individual Champions:
The Panther softball team has appeared in two Women's College World Series, in 1971 and 1974.