EIUPanthers Podcast: Recent Episodes
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Welcome as we kick of our third season of EIU Panthers Podcast visiting with with former EIU football player Jamie Pilson who has gone on to be a successful businessman in the local community. He talks about the experience of playing for former head coach Bob Spoo along with a couple of new initiatives taking place surrounding the EIU Football Program with the Panther Football Players Association and Panther Football Champions.
Our spring season of EIUPanthers Podcast continues as this week we visit with former Eastern Illinois women’s basketball player Mariah King. We talk to King about her career playing for the Panthers, touch on her playing career professionally overseas and discuss the Panthers success this season as she is in her first season as an assistant coach on the team. The women are set to play as the No. 2 seed in this week’s upcoming OVC Basketball Tournament in Evansville. (Episode 91)
We start up the spring segments of our EIUPanthers Podcast series as we visit with recently hired EIU women’s soccer head coach Dirk Bennett. Bennett discusses his long relationship with both the local area, Eastern Illinois and Panther soccer as he embarks on his first head coaching role at the collegiate level. Along we talk a little soccer and some of the styles of play that intrigue him. Enjoy Episode 90 of EIUPanthers Podcast
Welcome back to our latest episode of EIUpanthers Podcast (No. 89). Eastern Illinois baseball has had three players selected in the first round of the Major League Baseball Draft most recently with the selection of Trey Sweeney in 2021 by the New York Yankees. Tim Pyznarski was the first of those three Panthers selected when the Oakland A’s tabbed him with the 15th pick of the 1981 MLB Draft. He joins us to talk about is time playing at EIU, his path in professional baseball that included a stint in the Big Leagues with the San Diego Padres and what life after baseball has held for him.
This week in our return to the EIUPanthers Podcast series we sit down with Eastern Illinois Head Athletic Trainer Jim Nave. Nave has been in the athletic training business for more than 20 years and discusses what first got him into the profession and what things he has seen evolve over the past two decades. In addition he talks about how he has built his athletic training staff here at EIU and how his side hobbies of playing in a band and fishing give him a good balanced approach to his job. (Episode 88)
Our Eastern Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame series continues this week on EIUPanthers Podcast (Episode 87) with Marlise Davidson. Davidson was a three-sport athlete at Eastern Illinois which is a unique feat in these modern times when athletes excelling at just one sport is hard enough. Davidson was a standout in the pool as a sprint swimmer, a member of the EIU women’s rugby team playing in a unique event and middle distance runner on the track team helping EIU secure an Ohio Valley Conference Championship. She talks about all those experiences and her current job in the medical profession.
Welcome to this week’s edition of EIUPanthers Podcast (episode 86) as we continue our 2022 EIU Athletic Hall of Fame series this week as we talk with Dino Fanti. Fanti was a member of three EIU FCS playoff teams earning Ohio Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors in 2015 en route to earning first team All-American honors. Fanti did not follow the professional football route like his teammate and fellow 2022 EIU Hall of Fame inductee, Kamu Grugier-Hill, instead he followed another passion to become a firefighter in his native Florida. Fanti talks about what drew him to that career and what has kept him busy the past few years since his days on the EIU gridiron.
This week on EIUPanthers Podcast we start our Hall of Fame series talking over the next couple of weeks with members of the 2022 Eastern Illinois Athletic Hall of Fame. First up is Tom Akers who will be inducted as a coach following a dominating career leading the Panthers track and field programs. During his tenure, EIU won 45 Ohio Valley Conference track and field championships between the men’s and women’s programs covering both indoor and outdoor track. He coached 20 All-Americans and 26 OVC Athletes of the Year. Akers talks about his experiences at EIU, what it was like to be previously inducted into the OVC Hall of Fame and what retirement life is now like. (Episode 85)
This week we visit with another of the Panthers new head coaches as EIUPanthers Podcast (Episode 84) sits down with head swimming coach Johnathan Jordan. Jordan was hired late in the summer and hit the ground running at EIU in early August. He has a couple of previous head coaching stops and last fall had the unique chance to serve as an Olympic Coach for the team from the Marshall Islands. Jordan talks about his coaching experiences, what brought him to EIU and how he is adjusting to meeting many of the Panthers swimmers for the first time in the coming days.
Welcome to this week’s episode of EIUPanthers Podcast (No. 83 in our series). Eastern Illinois pitcher Hayden Birdsong was selected in the sixth round of this year’s Major League Baseball Draft by the San Francisco Giants. We catch up with Hayden on one of his off days as he is down in Arizona preparing for an abbreviated first season of professional baseball. He gives us some insight on the draft process, why he chose EIU and what the early days of his indoctrination to the Giants organization have been like.
Episode 82 of EIUPanthers Podcast - this week we talk to new Eastern Illinois men’s soccer coach Josh Oakley. Oakley grew up a local kid at nearby Mattoon High School and previously worked as an assistant coach with the Panthers men’s soccer program. We talk to him about his coaching journey and what has brought him full circle as he gets to coach a program that he knows a little something about.
Welcome back to EIUPanthers Podcast as we begin our third season of episodes covering Eastern Illinois Athletics with interviews with current and former coaches, athletes and administrators. Season three (Episode 81) kicks off with a conversation with former EIU golfer Ryanne Jackson. Jackson recently competed in the inaugural USGA Adadaptive Open placing second in the women’s field. She talks about this unique experience and how she was able to qualify for it. In addition she gives insight on how she made her way from Florida to EIU and what the game of golf has meant to her.
Episode 80 of EIUPanthers Podcast visits with former Eastern Illinois men’s basketball player Tyler Laser. Laser played for the Panthers during the late 2000’s and then overcame some miraculous odds to go on and have a successful professional career playing in Europe. This week we talk to Laser about some of his experiences which during part of his career took him to Eastern Europe along with his current life plan and how that evolved.
This week we piggyback off of friends at WEIU TV & Radio. A few weeks ago they had EIU Athletic Hall of Fame member Ken Wooddell on as a guest for their Issues and Attitudes program. Wooddell was a long time fixture in the radio industry in the Coles County area and served as the Voice of the Panther Football team during the 1980’s and 1990’s. With their permission, this week’s episode of EIUPanthers Podcast, No. 79, in our series, is a rebroadcast of their recent conversation with Wooddell.
The Eastern Illinois baseball team is off to the best start in the program’s NCAA Division I history as the Panthers head into mid-April leading the Ohio Valley Conference race with 22 wins. Part of that success has been with the play of transfer outfielder Nathan Aide along with strong performances by several other Panthers. Recently Aide accomplished one of the harder feats to do in offensive baseball as he hit for the cycle collecting a home run in his fifth and final at-bat of the game. Aide talks about that feat along with his baseball journey to Eastern Illinois and what he hopes the Panthers can accomplish on the field this season on Episode 78 of EIUPanthers Podcast.
Episode 77 of EIUPanthers Podcast visits with EIU softball player Hannah Cravens. Cravens played the role of hero in both of the Panthers softball games on Wednesday night (April 6) as she added to her season totals in doubles, home runs and RBI. She is currently chasing the single season school record in several categories, some of those held by her current teammates. We talk to Cravens about the good season she is having, what some of those accolades mean and what life holds for her after her softball days come to an end.
Episode 76 of EIUPanthers Podcast visits with former Eastern Illinois women’s soccer player Dr. Carole Griggs. Griggs was a standout player on the pitch for the Panthers in the early days of the program helping EIU win an OVC Tournament Championship while earning All-League honors. Since graduation she has gone on to create and run a successful consulting business that involves executive coaching for some top companies on the West Coast. In addition she has worked as a college professor and written several books. She talks about all those experiences and more on today’s episode.
In the fall of 2021 Eastern Illinois Athletics announced that it would add the sport of beach volleyball to begin play in the spring of 2022. Fast forward eight months and the Panthers will play their inaugural NCAA Beach Volleyball competition on March 22 against Missouri Baptist. Our guest today for episode 75 of EIUPanthers Podcast is EIU associate volleyball head coach Manolo Concepcion who serves as the head coach of the EIU beach program. Concepcion talks about how the beach program came about, his life long involvement with the sport and his side project which also involves the his continual growth in the sport of volleyball.
Episode 74 of EIUPanthers Podcast, on this week’s episode we visit with EIU women’s basketball seniors Kira Arthofer and Jordyn Hughes as both prepare to play their final home games for the Panthers this weekend at First Mid Court at Lantz Arena. Both came into the program four years ago and have played through the ups and downs of dealing with COVID seasons. Each recalls what it was that brought them to Eastern Illinois, some of the special moments they have shared with their teammates and what each of their futures holds after their time on the hardwood.
Episode 73 of EIUPanthers Podcast as this week we visit with recently hired EIU football coach Chris Wilkerson. Wilkerson, a former EIU player and assistant coach, talks about his time playing and coaching for the Panthers, some memories of stops he has had along the way and what it is like to follow in the footsteps of one of his coaching mentors as the head coach at Eastern Illinois.
Welcome to episode 72 of EIUPanthers Podcast as thie week we visit with former EIU swimmer Nancy Williams. Williams was a top free style sprint swimmer for the Panthers in the late 1990’s that still ranks in the EIU career top ten. Her original career path took her to Texas and a job with State Farm. Since that time she has followed a different passion opening up her own Cookie Company called Frosted. Williams talks about her time at EIU, how she got involved in her current business and an interesting story about how her cookies got into the hands of one of EIU’s most famous alumni.
Welcome to episode 71 of EIUPanthers Podcast as this week we catch-up with former Eastern Illinois women’s basketball player Alece Shumpert. Shumpert currently works for Nissan and talks about how a chance encounter during a car repair helped lead to her current career with the company. In addition we talk to Shumpert about her playing days at EIU and what its like to watch her younger brother Will follow in her footsteps as a student-athlete at EIU.
Episode 70 of EIUPanthers Podcast as we visit with former Eastern Illinois running back Ron Jordan. Jordan played football for the Panthers in the last 2000’s and talks about how those experiences as a member of the EIU football team helped shape him for career as an entrepreneur. He currently runs Jordan Hospitality and was recently featured in Inside INdiana Business magazine about his franchise opportunities with the Donatos Pizza Restaurants. We explore how several topics including how he got into the food business on today’s episode.
Episode 69 of EIUPanthers Podcast; this week we talk with EIU head baseball coach Jason Anderson as the Panthers prepare to open what will be his 7th season at the helm. Over the past three seasons EIU has had four players drafted under Anderson’s watch including Trey Sweeney, a first round selection this past season. Anderson talks about those players, the Panthers program and his own journey as a professional baseball player on this week’s episode.
Episode 68 of EIUPanthers Podcast. The term go-getter might be an understatement when describing our guest this week as we talk with former Eastern Illinois football player Keithan Hedrick. Hedrick earned his degree from EIU in three years while being a full-time student-athlete and guardian to two younger siblings. He has since gone on to earn his law degree, start both a family and a company and this week he and his wife appear on an episode of Shark Tank to promote their new online product – Candi. Hedrick catches us up on several things including what it was like to be a contestant on the show that airs on ABC this Friday, January 7.
Episode 67 of EIUPanthers Podcast visits with former EIU cross country and track runner Caitlin Napoleoni who since her days at EIU has gone on to have a successful career working in the TV industry as a weather person. We talk to her about how she became interested in that field, her memories of running cross country and track at Eastern Illinois and some news from her personal life which includes her husband working towards qualifying for his third Winter Olympic Games.
The early national signing day for football around the country took place recently and one of the newest Panthers is an Eastern Illinois football legacy as Carson Fichtel signed to play at EIU next fall. On episode 66 of EIUPanthers Podcast our guest is Carson’s dad, Brad Fichtel a former EIU All-American lineman that played for a short while in the National Football League. We talk to Brad about the pride he has in his son following in his footsteps at EIU, his time playing for the Panthers and the experiences that provided in a number of professional avenues.
Welcome to episode 65 of EIUPanthers Podcast as we visit with current EIU women’s basketball player Abby Wahl. Wahl recently joined the 1,000 point club at Eastern Illinois and was named one of 30 candidates for the NCAA’s Senior Class Award. We talk to Wahl about those two honors and what its like to be from the home town of Santa Claus, Indiana on this week’s episode.
Last week Eastern Illinois cross country runner Dustin Hatfield became just the third runner to qualify for the NCAA Division I Cross Country National Championships during the Panthers division I era. Hatfield will compete this Saturday at the NCAA meet in Tallahassee, Florida. On episode 64 of EIUPanthers Podcast we talk to him about the upcoming experience, his cross country journey and his love of both hunting and fishing when not on the cross country trails.
Basketball season is here as we continue our season preview on EIUPanthers Podcast as this week we bring you the Eastern Illinois men’s basketball press conference from this year’s Ohio Valley Conference Media Day. Head coach Marty Simmons enters his first season with the Panthers returning just a handful of players including post player Sammy Friday IV, who also participated in this year’s event for EIU. The 2021-22 season opens on Nov. 9 on the road as the Panthers travel to Northwestern. EIU’s home opener is Nov. 15 against Central Michigan.
Basketball Season is just around the corner and the next two weeks of EIUPanthers Podcast will be dedicated to Panthers round ball as we bring you the recent Ohio Valley Conference Media Day sessions for both teams. With an exhibition game on Nov. 3, we will start with the EIU women’s team this week. Participating in OVC Media Day for EIU women’s basketball this year was head coach Matt Bollant and senior forward Abby Wahl. The Panthers were selected to finish 7th in the OVC race with Wahl and teammate Lariah Washington tabbed as preseason All-OVC selections. Season tickets for the 2021-22 season are on sale by calling the EIU ticket office at 217-581-2106.
Episode 61 of EIUPanthers Podcast wraps up our EIU Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2021 series with former Panthers soccer player Devon Bissell. Bissell was a three-year member of the Panthers team who helped EIU advance to back-to-back NCAA College Cup appearances during her final two seasons in Charleston. She was a multiple time All-OVC selection and the OVC Player of the Year during one season. Bissell remains the OVC career leader in assists and today talks about her experience as a college athlete on the pitch and the opportunities that has provided her in her career in sports.
Episode 60 of EIUPanthers Podcast continues our Class of 2021 Hall of Fame series with Todd Moroney. Moroney was a multiple-time All-Conference selection in both track and cross country running for the Panthers during the mid-1990’s. Moroney talks about winning conference titles as a member of both the Mid-Continent Conference and Ohio Valley Conference in the steeplechase in addition to being just one of two EIU cross country runners to make to the NCAA National Championship meet during the Panthers NCAA Division I era.
Episode 59 of EIUPanthers Podcast continues our EIU Athletics Hall of Fame Class of 2021 series with the third of our five inductees, former EIU volleyball head coach Betty Ralston. Ralston coached the Panthers for 16 seasons posting seven 20+ win campaigns and coaching numerous All-Conference players including two players of the year. We talk with Ralston about her start in the coaching business, the early days of coaching in NCAA Division I, the conference changes EIU went through during her time and the current state of the game during today’s podcast.
Episode 58 of EIUPanthers Podcast continues our series with members of Eastern Illinois Class of 2021 Athletic Hall of Fame. Our guest today is former Ohio Valley Conference pitcher of the year Amber May. During three seasons in the circle for EIU, May became one of the most dominant pitchers in school history ranking in the single season and career top five for several pitching categories. We talk to May about her career and her busy life after softball at EIU.
Episode 57 of EIUPanthers Podcast as this week we begin our series with the Eastern Illinois Hall of Fame Class for 2021. Reynae Hutchinson was a standout performer in two sports during her time at Eastern Illinois. She was a multiple time All-Ohio Valley Conference selection as a member of both the Panthers volleyball and softball teams. She would finish her career in both sports ranked in the career top ten in several categories. Today she talks about her experiences playing both sports and catches us up on life post-EIU.
Episode 56 of EIUPanthers Podcast,as we continue our series with new Eastern Illinois head coaches and visit with Tyler Donges who was recently hired as the head coach for the Panthers men’s and women’s swim program. Donges was a diver at the club level and brings with him some extensive experience coaching at the club and high school level. Most recently he served as the head coach at Anderson University in Indiana.
This week on episode 55 of EIUPanthers Podcast we visit with former Eastern Illinois men’s soccer player Neil Swindells. Swindells played soccer for the Panthers in the early 1980’s alongside some of the great goal scorers in program history. Swindells helped set up many of those goals as he ranks second on the EIU career assists list. Since his playing days on the pitch, Swindells has gone on to a successful career as an airline pilot flying for United Airlines. Today he talks about some of his favorite airports to fly in and out of while also talking about some of his memories of playing soccer at EIU.
Episode 54 of EIUPanthers Podcast as this week we introduce fans to one of the Panthers newest head coaches, Keith Roberts, the new EIU Director of Track and Field. Roberts comes to Eastern Illinois following a successful stint as an assistant coach at ACC member Pittsburgh. Roberts talks about his experiences at Pitt and his other coaching stops on today’s episode in addition to talking about his background as a football and track athlete at Kent State and how that helped shape his approach to coaching.
Welcome to episode 53 of EIUPanthers Podcast. With the ever changing landscape in college athletics, our guest this week is well versed on the topic as we visit with Angie Jabir. Jabir, then Angie Russell, played basketball at Eastern Illinois before a career as a college basketball coach and now as the senior associate athletic director & senior woman administrator at Siena College. During our episode today we talk to Jabir about her experiences as a student-athlete and how those helped mold her into the administrator she has become today. We also touch on some of the hot button topics in college athletics on this week’s episode.
Episode 52 of EIUPanthers Podcast visits with one of the newest members of the Eastern Illinois staff as our guest is women’s tennis coach Ross Sons. Ross comes to EIU following a recent stop as the head coach at NCAA Division II member Mars Hill in North Carolina. A former collegiate tennis player, Sons talks about his playing experiences and what he hopes to bring to the EIU program as a head coach.
Welcome to episode 51 of EIUPanthers Podcast. On this week’s episode we talk with former Eastern Illinois women’s swimmer NelliRose Farella. NelliRose talks about her time as a swimmer at EIU and how that helped set a foundation for many things she has since done in her professional life including writing a recently published children’s book called Nella’s Kindness Kicks.
EIUPanthers Podcast returns this week for our second season as we debut with episode 50 in our series. We kickoff year two with a conversation with Eastern Illinois Athletic Director Tom Michael. Michael is entering his 8th year at the helm in Charleston having recently guided the Panthers athletic department through a year impacted by COVID-19. On today’s episode we talk about that experience, his experiences as a student-athlete at Illinois and how he got started on his path in athletic administration.
Welcome to this week’s edition of EIUPanthers Podcast. We are rounding out the summer months as this past week the Ohio Valley Conference held its annual football media day with this year’s event once again in a virtual format. Eastern Illinois head coach Adam Cushing and running back Jaelin Benefield represented Eastern Illinois during the event. The Panthers had two preseason All-OVC selections in linebacker Jason Johnson and kick returner Matt Judd. EIU will open the 2021 season with a week Zero game on Saturday, August 28 at Indiana State. The home opener is on Saturday, September 18 against Illinois State in the Mid-America Classic with the Ohio Valley Conference opener on the road on Sept. 25 at Tennessee Tech. New episodes will air the first week in August.
The Tokyo Olympic Games are just weeks away and our guest this week will not only representing Team USA at the upcoming event but also her alma mater, Eastern Illinois as our guest for episode 49 of EIUPanthers Podcast is Team USA Women’s Rugby player Lauren Doyle. This will be Doyle’s second Olympic Games after being a part of the first women’s rugby team to participate in the Olympics during the 2016 Rio Olympics. On today’s episode we talk to her about her two Olympic experiences and what it is like to be a member of Team USA.
Episode 48 of EIUPanthers Podcast talks with Eastern Illinois women’s soccer head coach Jake Plant. Plant, originally from England, talks about his experiences as a player on the EIU men’s soccer team, how he first got into the coaching business and what it has been like to coach the women’s program at his alma mater.
The month of June has been the EIU Panther Club's annual fund drive with this year's campaign centered around the theme of Loyal and True. Episode 47 of EIUPanthers Podcast talks to several EIU student-athletes, coaches and administrators as they each quickly tell their EIU True Story and how this university has impacted their lives. For more information on how you can support the EIU Panther Club - click the Panther Club link on www.eiupanthers.com
Episode 46 of EIUPanthers Podcast talks with Mike Bradd, a voice that will be immediately recognizable to Eastern Illinois Panther fans as he has served as the Voice of the Panthers for basketball since the Kevin Duckworth era and has been calling EU football games since Tony Romo graced the gridiron. On this week’s episode we talk to him about how he got into broadcasting, some of the memorable moments and players he has covered and his love of Indy Car Racing.
EIUPanthers Podcast returns this week after taking a week off as Episode 45 talks with former Eastern Illinois tennis player Merritt Whitley. Whitley talks about her time playing tennis for the Panthers, her love of music and foray into the music business and what she is doing professionally now in Kansas City.
With the landscape of NCAA College Athletics changing rapidly episode 44 of EIUPanthers Podcast visits with Kiersten Klekner-Alt, Eastern Illinois Associate Athletic Director for Compliance and Senior Woman Administrator. Klekner-Alt talks about changes in NCAA legislation and the impact it is having on programs and how that makes her job in the compliance world very interesting at this time. A former student-athlete herself, Klekner-Alt talks about those experiences and how they help her in her current role. She also talks about her passion for the game of golf.
Episode 43 of EIUPanthers Podcast talks hoops with former Eastern Illinois women’s basketball standout Rachel Galligan. Galligan, a EIU Athletic Hall of Fame selection, ended her EIU playing days as the Panthers career scoring leader. On this episode, we talk about her time as a Panthers player, her career in the college coaching world and her current occupation which has kept her tied to the game at the both the collegiate and professional levels.
This week Eastern Illinois hosts the Ohio Valley Conference Outdoor Track & Field Championships so our guest this week for Episode 42 of EIUPanthers Podcast is current EIU Director of Track & Field, Brenton Emanuel. We talk to Emanuel about his experience as a track athlete here at Eastern Illinois, his transition into coaching and what it was like to return to his alma mater to take over the Panthers program. In addition, Emanuel gives us a quick preview on the upcoming meet and any added pressure for the Panthers in hosting the meet.
Episode 41 of EIUPanthers Podcast visits with former Eastern Illinois football player Donovan Johnson. Johnson played for the Panthers from 2006-08 after transferring from Arkansas. On today’s episode, Johnson talks about his time playing football, his decision to transfer to Eastern Illinois, what got him interested in following a career in the medical field and what the future holds for him as he wraps up his medical fellowship this year in Colorado.
Episode 40 of EIUPanthers Podcast as we talk with current EIU cross country and track runner Adam Swanson. This season as a redshirt freshman Swanson has burst onto the scene winning the 800 meter and 1,500 meter races at the Texas Relays. He added a win and second place finish in those events this past weekend at the Drake Relays. Swanson talks about his season to date, how he got into the sport of running and his experience at EIU having already won a pair of OVC Championships on the cross country and indoor track teams.
Episode 39 of EIUPanthers Podcast talks Eastern Illinois records as we visit with Panthers softball infielder Megan Burton who over the weekend became the EIU single season record holder for home runs. Burton leads the OVC heading into the weekend with 14 home runs which ranks 12th in the NCAA. She entered the season already ranked in the EIU career top ten for stolen bases and on this week's episode talks about the home run record and how she has improved her game to now be ranked in the career top ten for power and speed numbers.
This week on Episode 38 of EIUPanthers Podcast we talk to former Eastern Illinois baseball player Rick Royer who talks about his time playing for the Panthers, following in the footsteps of his older brother, how he got hooked on competing in Triathlons and his new passion to compete in Ultra Marathons.
Episode 37 of EIUPanthers Podcast as this week we talk to the Panthers new men’s basketball coach Marty Simmons about his start in basketball, what excited him about the opportunity at Eastern Illinois, what he has learned along the way as a head coach and oh yeah, a few stories about his standout prep career at Lawrenceville High School where they won back-to-back Illinois State Championships with two undefeated teams. Simmons is the 15th head coach in program history and fourth in the Panthers 41 years at the NCAA Division I level
Episode 36 of EIUPanthers Podcast jumps back into the water and visits this with former EIU swimmer Scott Ebinger. Scott grew up in Charleston first swimming at CHS and later as a member of the Eastern Illinois swim team in the 1980’s under long time head coach Ray Padovan. Ebinger recalls how he got into the sport of swimming, some of his memories with the program and his focus now on helping to create a swim centered booster group to help support the Panthers swim program for years to come.
Episode 35 of EIUPanthers Podcast talks with former Eastern Illinois volleyball standout Marah Bradbury. Bradbury finished her career playing for the Panthers ranked third all-time in career assists earning All-Ohio Valley Conference honors multiple times. We talk to her about how that leadership role as a setter on the court helped carry her to her current career as an EMT and Firefighter in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Episode 34 of EIUPanthers Podcast we visit with a former Panthers kicker Ray D’Alessio. D’Alessio kicked for the Panthers in the late 1980’s and was part of the Panthers 1989 NCAA FCS quarterfinal playoff team. Following his playing career he moved into a career in television, starting in Terre Haute before later moving to a 10-year career at CNN. He now works as an anchor and show producer for Georgia Farm Monitor.
Episode 33 of EIUPanthers Podcast includes multiple guests as we chat with Dan Verdun and Barry Bottino, the creators of Prairie State Pigskin, a website that provides coverage of the four FCS football schools in the state of Illinois. In addition to being the creators of that source of information five years ago, Dan and Barry are both Eastern Illinois alums that worked at one time for the Daily Eastern News. So today we talk about the Prairie State Pigskin and revisit some of their favorite memories covering Eastern Illinois Athletics.
On this week’s episode (No. 32) we visit with former three-sport athlete Wayne Stingley. A native of Chicago, he came to EIU in the early 1960’s as a track athlete and quickly worked his way on to the football and basketball teams with the Panthers. After becoming the first college graduate in his family, he moved into teaching and coaching. It was some advice from a friend that would then get him involved in the fast food business as he became an owner of a McDonald’s franchise in Chicago and has since expanded his ownership with his wife Dorothy to franchises in Arizona where the couple now lives.
On this week’s episode of EIUPanthers Podcast (No. 31) we hit the links as we talk with former Eastern Illinois men’s golfer David Lawrence. Lawrence talks about his time playing at EIU where he posted several first place tournament finishes and was runner-up at the OVC Championship. He also recalls some early advice coach Mike Moncel gave him as he looked to turn pro and make a living playing golf. Lawrence is currently playing on the PGA LatinoAmerica Tour and has one PGA Tournament appearance at the John Deere Classic.
Episode 30 of EIUPanthers Podcast visits with former EIU swimmer Amanda Bos. Bos was a Hall of Fame swimmer for the Panthers who worked internationally in marketing and sales before returning to Charleston to work in Athletic Administration at EIU when her husband Matt was hired as the Panthers swim coach. Bos talks about those experiences and the journey that has followed as she now works in corporate sales and marketing in Minnesota.
Episode 29 of EIUPanthers Podcast visits with EIU’s newly hired Director of Athletic Development Mike Murray as he transitions into the role on an interim basis while concluding his work as a Development officer in the EIU Office of Advancement and the EIU Foundation. Today we talk to Murray at about his time as a student-athlete, his first exposure to intercollegiate athletics, his connections to Charleston and EIU Athletics and some of the projects he has been able to help facilitate during his time working for the University.
Episode 28 of EIUPanthers Podcast as this week episode we visit with former EIU All-American runner Mike Hatfield who had a long career in athletic administration before retiring and taking on a new role. We catch up with Mike as he talks about how he got into running, his success and memories at EIU, some of the highlights from his long athletic administrative career and a program he and several other EIU cross country & track alums put together to support their teammates.
With the NFL season winding down and once again several former Eastern Illinois Panthers playing or coaching in the league, Episode 27 of EIUPanthers Podcast takes this week to visit with one of the newest Panthers in the EIU NFL Family, Alexander Hollins. Ally B. as he was known earned All-American honors playing for the Panthers in 2018 before signing as a free agent with the Minnesota Vikings. He was a two-year member of the Vikings team before being traded at the end of this past season to the Cleveland Browns. Hollins was active on the roster for the Browns first round playoff win and today he talks about his NFL experience, his time at Eastern Illinois and his path from Yazoo City, Mississippi to both destinations.
Episode 26 of EIUPanthers Podcast is a little different as earlier this week the Ohio Valley Conference held its Virtual Media Day for football which will be played in the OVC this spring. The Panthers were represented by head coach Adam Cushing and quarterback Harry Woodbery. For this week’s episode of EIUPanthers Podcast we bring you the audio recording of EIU’s session from OVC Media Day. The 2021 Spring football season will kick off for EIU on Sunday, Feb. 21 as six of EIU’s seven games will take place on Sunday. Two players – wide receiver Isaiah Hill and linebacker Dytarious Johnson – were named to the preseason All-OVC team.
Episode 25 of EIUPanthers Podcast. On this week’s episode we visit with former Eastern Illinois women’s basketball guard Megan Edwards who was recently selected for the Illinois Basketball Coaches Hall of Fame. Edwards played for the Panthers in the mid-2000’s and was a part of a recruiting class that helped build a foundation of success for the Panthers for nearly a decade. Edwards talks about her playing days at EIU, what it means to be selected to the IBCA Hall of Fame and her current career as a high school teacher working in family and consumer sciences classes..
Episode 24 of EIUPanthers Podcast visits with the newest member of the Eastern Illinois coaching family as Paul Jarzynka was recently hired as the Panthers new men’s tennis head coach. Jarzynka becomes the 20th head coach in program history. A former NCAA Division III player, Jarzynka talks about his playing days reaching the NCAA Tournament and his path to coaching college tennis which includes stops at Wright State and most recently Belmont Abbey, a Top 30 NCAA Division II program.
Episode 23 of EIUPanthers Podcast visits with Eastern Illinois Director of Football Performance Derek Stein. Stein was hired in December and will take over the position in January. A former graduate assistant strength and conditioning coach at Eastern Illinois, Stein was able to work the spring and summer of 2019 with EIU head football coach Adam Cushing and his staff helping to create the opportunity for this position. Stein talks about that relationship and how he became interested in the field in this week's episode.
Episode 22 of EIUPanthers Podcast as we talk with former Eastern Illinois baseball pitcher Matt Wivinis. Wivinis was recently selected with the second pick of the Major League Baseball Tiriple-A Rule 5 Draft. Wivinis talks about his unique journey into professional baseball, his time in the New York Yankess farm system and what his recent draft selection by the Texas Rangers might mean for his baseball career.
Episode 21 of EIUPanthers Podcast talks with Eastern Illinois senior guard Mack Smith. Smith moved into a tie in the NCAA Division I record books last Saturday (Dec. 12) against Western Illinois when he knocked down a 3-pointer for the 88th consecutive game. Smith is now tied with former Illinois standout guard Cory Bradford. Smith will attempt to break the record on Monday, Dec. 21 when the Panthers open Ohio Valley Conference play at SIUE. Smith joins us today to talk about the streak, his approach to basketball and his inspiration behind the drive to complete the streak and own the record.
Episode 20 of EIUPanthers Podcast visits with former Eastern Illinois women's golfer Amanda Minchin. Minchin was a three-time All-Ohio Valley Conference performer for the Panthers in the early days of the program in the early 2000's. Minchin won two individual tournament titles and turned that success into a professional opportunity on the Canadian Tour. She is now a PGA of Canada professional and general manager on her home course.
Throwing things has always come naturally for former Eastern Illinois track & field standout Braidy Miller. On episode 19 of EIUPanthers Podcast we talk to the former three-time All-American about his unusual path to the Panthers program along with records he still owns at EIU. In addition we talk to him about one his new passions, the Scottish Highland Games where is a world record holder in several events.
Episode 18 of EIUPanthers Podcast takes a trip down memory lane as we bring you this Thanksgiving Day episode covering the 1948 Corn Bowl. The Corn Bowl was played on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 25, 1948 in Bloomington, Illinois. On today's episode we talk with Ed Buchanan, a freshman on that year's EIU football team and one of the few surviving members of that team.
One week away from the start of the 2020-21 college basketball season and this week on episode 17 of EIUPanthers Podcast we preview the Eastern Illinois men’s basketball season. The Panthers were picked fifth in the OVC preseason poll and feature returning preseason All-Conference players Mack Smith and Josiah Wallace. Today we speak with head coach Jay Spoonhour and seniors George Dixon and Marvin Johnson about the upcoming season.
Episode 16 of EIUPanthers Podcast brings a season preview of the 2020-21 Eastern Illinois women's basketball season. With season just around the corner, head coach Matt Bollant previews the season along with quick interviews with seniors Taylor Steele and Grace McRae. The 2020-21 season opens on Nov. 25 with the Panthers hosting UIC. Due to State of Illinois COVID regulations, no spectators will be allowed to attend games this season at First Mid Court at Lantz Arena.
Episode 15 of EIUPanthers Podcast wraps up the EIU Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2020 series with former Panthers wide receiver Adam Drake. Drake talks about growing up in Charleston and then playing for his hometown school, a youthful encounter with EIU legend Tony Romo and life after football.
Episode 14 of EIUPanthers Podcast continues our 2020 Eastern Illinois Athletic Hall of Fame series as we talk with Olivia Klaus. Klaus was a standout cross country runner for the Panthers becoming the first runner in women's program history to earn All-Ohio Valley Conference honors all four seasons. Klaus helped the Panthers win the 2011 OVC Cross Country Championship and was a member of several OVC Indoor and Outdoor Track Championship squads. Our conversation covers her running career at EIU, how she got started in the sport and her current career as a successful coach.
Episode 13 of EIUPanthers Podcast continues our series with the 2020 Eastern Illinois Athletic Hall of Fame inductees. Today we talk to Chandra Golden who was a standout on the women's track & field teams. She talks about her time as an OVC Champion Hurdler, winning the Panthers first conference championship and how she got started in a career working at State Farm.
Episode 12 of EIUPanthers Podcast continues our 2020 Eastern Illinois Athletic Hall of Fame Inductee series with former athletic director R.C. Johnson. Johnson talks about his time at Eastern Illinois, his hiring of legendary coaches Rick Samuels and Bob Spoo, his long career in athletic administration and his relationship with coach John Calipari.
Welcome to episode Number 11 of EIUPanthers Podcast. I’m your host Rich Moser. On this week’s episode we line up the number of the podcast episode with one of the all-time greats to wear that number as we are joined by former Eastern Illinois basketball standout Kyle Hill. Kyle is now working behind the scenes in the TV & film industry, so we discuss some top Netflix shows along with his time as a Panther and long professional career playing overseas.
Episode 10 of EIUPanthers Podcast starts our 2020 Eastern Illinois Athletics Hall of Fame series with inductee Vincent Webb. Webb was the Panthers primary running back from 2003-06 finishing his career second on the Panthers career rushing list with 4,233 yards. Webb was named the Ohio Valley Conference Offensive Player of the Year in 2006 after helping lead the Panthers to a second straight FCS playoff appearance.
Episode Nine of EIUPanthers Podcast. On this week’s episode we visit with former Eastern Illinois Pink Panthers member Paige Cavalieri who went on to perform for several years as a member of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders. Paige talks about that experience and her life as the wife of an NFL player as she and husband Jeff Heath have been married for just over two years.
Episode 8 of EIUPanthers Podcast sits down with former EIU track athlete Lamarr Pottinger. Pottinger was a multiple time Ohio Valley Conference hurdle champion for the Panthers before embarking on a career in athletic administration. Pottinger currently serves as the Associate Director of Leadership Development at the NCAA.
Episode 7 of EIUPanthers Podcast catches up with former Eastern Illinois women's basketball player Chantelle Pressley. Pressley ended her four-year career with the Panthers having been on teams that posted the most wins over a 4-year period in school history. She parlayed that into a career playing professional basketball overseas and recently entered the real estate business.
Episode Six of EIUPanthers Podcast with second year Eastern Illinois head football coach. Cushing was set to coach the Panthers in the 2020 season opener on Thursday night, Sept. 2 before the fall season was postponed. Instead he joins us on the podcast to talk about his role on the Football Oversight Committee, how he started his coaching career and following an older brother that played in the NFL.
Episode 5 of EIUPanthers Podcast we talk hoops with former EIU men's basketball player Paul Neidig who was recently named the Commissioner of the Indiana High School Sports Association. Neidig played boyhood basketball in Indiana and matched up everyday in practice against future NBA All-Star Kevin Duckworth...
On episode four of EIUPanthers Podcast we visit with Jake Mitchell, a former member of both the Eastern Illinois track and football teams. Mitchell was a member of OVC Championship teams in both sports and at one time held a school record in sprints. Since graduation Mitchell has gone on to join the police force and currently works as a police officer in the Chicago area.
On episode 3 of EIUPanthers Podcast we visit with former EIU softball player Maria Sorrentino. Sorrentino was a member of the Panthers first Ohio Valley Conference regular season softball championship team. Since her days playing for the Panthers she has gone on to work in Finance at ESPN and recently has turned a hobby into a second source of income.
On episode 2 of EIUPanthers Podcast we visit with former EIU cross country coach Dr. Tom Woodall who also served as a long time instructor at Eastern Illinois. Coach Woodall was an assistant coach for the Panthers 1968 and 1969 National Championship Cross Country teams before guiding the 1977 team to a third title at the NCAA Division II level. He also served as an assistant coach for the EIU 1974 NCAA Track & Field National Championship team.
Our first edition of EIUPanthers Podcast starts with a visit from former EIU men's soccer player and coach Schellas Hyndman... Hyndman was a member of the Panthers 1969 NAIA National Championship soccer team before a successful stint as EIU's head coach in the late 1970's and early 1980's... His long coaching career would span time at SMU, FC Dallas in Major League Soccer and currently with Grand Canyon University.