Eastern Illinois Athletics has announced that men’s basketball head coach Jay Spoonhour‘s contract will not be renewed.  The Panthers wrapped up the 2020-21 season last weekend at home posting a 9-18 record, 6-10 in the Ohio Valley Conference.
 
Entering the season Spoonhour was the longest tenured coach in the OVC as he coached his ninth season with the Panthers.   His record at EIU was 119-157 in nine years, including a 66-88 record in the OVC.
 
Under Spoonhour, EIU posted two winning seasons in nine years advancing to the second round of the CIT in 2015.
 
“These decisions are never easy to make, especially with a person like Coach Spoonhour,” said EIU athletic director Tom Michael.  “We felt that it was time to take the program in a new direction under different leadership.  We wish Jay and his family nothing but the best.”
 
A national search will begin for what will be only the fourth head coach in the programs 41 year NCAA Division I history.