Bob Spoo

For the academic, see Robert Spoo.

Bob Spoo
Biographical details
Born(1937-11-02)November 2, 1937
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
DiedOctober 15, 2018(2018-10-15) (aged 80)
Rockford, Illinois, U.S.
Playing career
1956–1958Purdue
Position(s)Quarterback
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1961Fenwick HS (IL) (assistant)
1962St. Laurence HS (IL)
1963–1966Loyola Academy (IL) (backfield)
1967–1972Loyola Academy (IL)
1973–1977Wisconsin (QB)
1978–1984Purdue (QB)
1985–1986Purdue (OC)
1987–2005Eastern Illinois
2007–2011Eastern Illinois
Head coaching record
Overall144–131–1 (college)
Bowls1–8 (NCAA D-I-AA/FCS playoffs)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
1 Gateway Football (1995)
4 OVC (2001–2002, 2005, 2009)
Awards
Gateway Football Coach of the Year (1995)
3× OVC Coach of the Year (2001, 2005, 2009)

Robert Allen Spoo (November 2, 1937 – October 15, 2018) was an American college football coach. He served as the head football coach at Eastern Illinois University from 1987 to 2011 (with an interruption in 2006 due to surgery), compiling a record of 144–131–1. Spoo led the Eastern Illinois Panthers to five conference titles, nine playoff berths, and ten finishes in the Top 25 polls. He coached nine First Team All-Americans, including Tristan Burge and Tony Romo.

Spoo was an alumnus of Purdue University and a former quarterback on the Purdue Boilermakers football team. Prior to receiving the head coaching position at Eastern Illinois, Spoo served as an assistant at Purdue and the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He also coached at the high school level.

Spoo and his wife, Suzie, had one daughter. After retiring, the Spoos continued to reside in Charleston, Illinois. He died on October 15, 2018, at the age of 80.[1][2]

Head coaching record

College

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs NCAA/TSN# USA/ESPN°
Eastern Illinois Panthers (Gateway Football Conference) (1987–1995)
1987 Eastern Illinois 5–6 3–3 T–3rd
1988 Eastern Illinois 5–6 2–4 T–5th
1989 Eastern Illinois 9–4 4–2 2nd L NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfinal 15
1990 Eastern Illinois 5–6 3–3 T–3rd
1991 Eastern Illinois 4–7 2–4 T–5th
1992 Eastern Illinois 5–6 2–4 T–3rd
1993 Eastern Illinois 3–7–1 2–3–1 T–4th
1994 Eastern Illinois 6–5 4–2 T–2nd
1995 Eastern Illinois 10–2 5–1 T–1st L NCAA Division I-AA First Round 12
Eastern Illinois Panthers (Ohio Valley Conference) (1996–2005)
1996 Eastern Illinois 8–4 6–2 T–2nd L NCAA Division I-AA First Round 16
1997 Eastern Illinois 8–3 5–2 T–2nd 21 22
1998 Eastern Illinois 6–5 4–3 T–4th
1999 Eastern Illinois 2–10 2–5 T–6th
2000 Eastern Illinois 8–4 6–1 2nd L NCAA Division I-AA First Round 17 22
2001 Eastern Illinois 9–2 6–0 1st L NCAA Division I-AA First Round 9 9
2002 Eastern Illinois 8–4 5–1 T–1st L NCAA Division I-AA First Round 13 12
2003 Eastern Illinois 4–8 3–5 T–5th
2004 Eastern Illinois 5–6 4–4 4th
2005 Eastern Illinois 9–3 8–0 1st L NCAA Division I-AA First Round 16 15
Eastern Illinois Panthers (Ohio Valley Conference) (2007–2011)
2007 Eastern Illinois 8–4 7–1 2nd L NCAA Division I First Round 18
2008 Eastern Illinois 5–7 3–5 6th
2009 Eastern Illinois 8–4 6–2 1st L NCAA Division I First Round 19
2010 Eastern Illinois 2–9 2–6 7th
2011 Eastern Illinois 2–9 1–7 9th
Eastern Illinois: 144–131–1 68–44
Total: 144–131–1
      National championship         Conference title         Conference division title or championship game berth

References

  1. ^ "Hall of Fame EIU coach passes away". The News-Gazette. Champaign, Illinois. October 15, 2018. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  2. ^ "Robert Spoo". Journal Gazette & Times-Courier. Mattoon, Illinois. October 19, 2018. Retrieved August 2, 2021.