Eastern Illinois University Football

Chris Wilkerson Hiring Press Conference Video Follow on Twitter @EIU_FB and @FB_Coach_Wilk Eastern Illinois football is bringing one of its own back home as

Mike McClanathan was hired as an assistant coach on Chris Wilkerson's staff at Eastern Illinois in January 2026, where he will coach the offensive line. Prior to joining the Panthers, McClanathan spent two seasons (2024-2025) as an assistant coach at Saginaw Valley State, serving as offensive line coach and co-offensive coordinator with the offense ranking 37th in NCAA Division II. During his tenure, he coached one honorable mention All-American and six All-Conference offensive line selections. McClanathan previously worked at Eastern Michigan for three seasons (2021-2023), helping the team to three straight bowl appearances including the 2022 Idaho Potato Bowl title, and coached Sidy Sow who was drafted by the New England Patriots in the 4th round. He spent seven seasons at Drake University (2015-2021) as an assistant and offensive line coach, earning the title of Run Game Coordinator and coaching 15 All-Conference selections, including Eric Saubert who was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in 2017. A Drake University alum and member of two Pioneer Football League championship teams, McClanathan holds a bachelor's degree from Drake and is a native of Frontenac, Missouri.

Rodman Noel is a linebacker coach at Eastern Illinois University, hired in March 2025 to join head coach Chris Wilkerson's staff. He brings extensive coaching experience across multiple levels of college football. Noel previously served as an assistant coach at West Georgia in 2024, where he worked with linebackers and special teams on a defense that ranked third in FCS in sacks per game. Before that, he was a linebackers coach and recruiting coordinator at Morehead State in 2023, where he coached two All-Conference linebackers and part of a defensive unit that led FCS in interceptions. He also spent time as a graduate assistant coach at Southwest Baptist from 2021-23, where he coached All-American linebacker Coleton Smith and three All-Conference selections. Noel played linebacker at NC State, where he was a team captain and member of three bowl teams, leading the team in tackles in 2014 and earning the team's Defensive Player Award. He holds a bachelor's degree from North Carolina State University and a master's degree from Southwest Baptist University. A native of Everett, Massachusetts, Noel signed as an undrafted free agent with the Cleveland Browns.

Shaun Wick was hired as an Eastern Illinois assistant coach in January 2026 and serves as the running backs coach and recruiting coordinator for the Panthers. Prior to joining EIU, Wick worked two seasons at New Mexico State (2024-2025) as an Offensive Analyst with running backs and wide receivers, helping coach 2nd Team All-Conference USA honorees Seth McGowan, Mike Washington, and Donovan Faupel. In 2023, he served as running backs coach at Ventura College, where he helped the team post an 8-4 record averaging 227.2 yards per game rushing and coached the school's first 1,000-yard rushing duo. Wick also coached at Moorpark College in 2021-2022, helping the team to its first winning season and bowl game appearance in five years with a 7-4 record. A native of Ventura, California, Wick played college football at the University of Wyoming from 2012-2016, earning spots on the Doak Walker Award Watch List in 2014 and 2015 and Honorable Mention All-Mountain West Conference honors in 2013 and 2014. He finished his Wyoming career ranked 7th on the school's all-time rushing list and 8th in all-time rushing touchdowns. After earning his bachelor's degree from Wyoming in 2017, Wick played three seasons in the Canadian Football League from 2017-2020.

Tino Smith II is a wide receivers coach at Eastern Illinois University, hired as an assistant coach in January 2024 on head coach Chris Wilkerson's staff. He enters his third year coaching the position group for the 2026 season. At Eastern Illinois, Smith has coached Cooper Willman and DeAirious Smith, both of whom finished with more than 1,000 career receiving yards, and coached first team All-Conference wide receiver Cooper Willman, who set an EIU single game record with 291 yards against Gardner-Webb. Prior to Eastern Illinois, Smith served as a graduate assistant coach at Michigan State during the 2023 season, assisting the wide receivers coach. He was an assistant coach at Albion College from 2018-2022, where he served as assistant head coach and recruiting coordinator during the 2022 season. At Albion, Smith coached All-American wide receiver Justin Thomas and two Conference Offensive MVPs in Thomas (2021) and Mark Tocco (2022), helping the team reach the 2021 NCAA Division III playoffs while coaching five All-Conference wide receivers. Smith played football at Savannah State University as a team captain and four-year starter, earning his bachelor's degree in 2018. He is a native of Carmel, Indiana.