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Tuesday, March 24, 2009 11:02 AM CDT
Spoo's contract is extended through 2010



CHARLESTON -- Bob Spoo is set to coach Eastern Illinois football beyond this year’s elder-statesmen clash with Penn State’s Joe Paterno.

EIU announced on Monday that its board of trustees has approved a contract extension for Spoo through the 2010 season as well as the promotion for defensive coordinator Roc Bellantoni and offensive coordinator Roy Wittke to associate head coaches and a three-year contract for new volleyball coach Alan Segal.

“I’m certainly pleased that they are happy with our work,” Spoo said. “We have good people around me and we feel we are trying to do things the right way.

“I want get back to doing things the way we used to - contend for a conference championship and get into the playoffs. I’m excited about it and hope I can merit their trust and my leadership.”

While the Panthers fell to 5-7 the past season, Spoo has taken the team to eight postseason playoff appearances while compiling a 132-109-1 record in his 21 seasons as head coach, not counting 2006 when he missed the season because of illness.

He was OVC Coach of the Year in 2001 and ’05, Gateway Conference Coach of the Year in 1995, Region Coach of the Year in 1995 and 2001 and Football Gazette NCAA Division I-AA Coach of the Year in 2005.

Bellantoni has been on Spoo’s staff since 2001 and has been the defensive coordinator since 2002. He was elevated to assistant head coach in 2007 and now takes the title of associate head coach for defense.

Wittke spent the 1990-2002 seasons at Eastern and was named the NCAA Division I-AA Assistant Coach of the Year in 2002. He left for stints as an assistant coach at Arkansas, Arizona State and Northern Illinois before returning to Spoo’s staff last year.

“I have two outstanding men as you know on their sides of the ball,” Spoo said. “I’m happy that they both have that opportunity. Once I’m gone I don’t know what direction we’re going to go but I feel I have two outstanding replacements. I‘m glad they see they have this opportunity.”

Spring practice is to begin next week for Eastern in preparation for a 2009 season that is to include an Oct. 10 game at Penn State. Paterno has been the head coach at Penn State since 1966 leading a list of longest tenures in the country where Spoo is tied for fifth starting at Eastern in 1987.

Eastern also announced on Monday the approval of a three-year contract for the 2009-11 seasons for Segal, who in January was named the Panthers’ new volleyball coach replacing Lori Bennett, who resigned after last fall’s season.

“We are pleased that the Board of Trustees has approved these contracts for coach Spoo and coach Segal,” EIU Athletic Director Barbara Burke said in a sports information department release. “Coach Spoo has been the face of Panther football for more than 20 years and I am pleased that he accepted a multiple-year contract. Coach Segal is an outstanding experienced coach who will immediately help turn EIU’s volleyball program into a conference contender.”

Contact Brian Nielsen at bnielsen@jg-tc.com or 238-6856.


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