Kim Dameron Hired As EIU Head Football Coach

Eastern Illinois has announced that Kim Dameron has been hired as the 24th head coach in program history and the fifth in the NCAA Division I era.

Dameron will be formally introduced at a press conference on Saturday morning at 11 a.m. in the Ike Kennard Club Room in Lantz Arena.  The press conference is open to the media and public.  A reception will follow the press conference on the Panther Patio.  The press conference will also be streamed live on the OVC Digital Network.

Dameron spent the 2013 season as the defensive coordinator at Louisiana Tech where he directed a much improved defensive unit.  The Bulldogs finished ranked 69th in the nation in total defense under Dameron’s direction after being ranked 120th the previous season.  Dameron’s defense was the fourth most-improved squad in the FBS last season.

An experienced defensive coach with more than 15 years as a defensive coordinator Dameron will take over an Eastern Illinois program that advanced to the FCS playoff quarterfinals last season.  It will be Dameron’s second stint in Charleston as he previously worked as the defensive coordinator at EIU in 2000 as a member of head coach Bob Spoo’s staff.  During that 2000 season, Dameron helped transform the Panthers defense as they rebounded from a 2-10 season in 1999 to 8-4 and Ohio Valley Conference Champions in 2000.

Dameron spent three seasons as the safeties coach at Ole Miss as the team appeared in two Cotton Bowls.  Two of his players were selected in the NFL draft as his pass defense unit ranked 11th in the NCAA in pass efficiency defense and 15th in pass defense.

Prior to his stint at Ole Miss, Dameron was the defensive coordinator at Louisiana-Monroe as the program became bowl eligible at the FBS level for the first time in 2007 while also picking up a win over Alabama.  The ULM defense led the Sun Belt Conference in fewest points allowed and ranking third nationally in turnovers gained.

Dameron has previous stops as the defensive coordinator at Stephen F. Austin and as the secondary coach at Cincinnati and UNLV.  He spent the 1999 season as the secondary coach in the Canadian Football League with the Toronto Argonauts.

He has previous FCS coaching experience on the staffs of Murray State and Missouri State where he helped coach both teams to FCS playoff appearances.

Dameron began his coaching career as a graduate assistant under Lou Holtz at Arkansas, his alma mater, after earning his degree.  He was a four-year player for the Razorbacks from 1979-82 at wide receiver and defensive back.  As a Razorback he participated in four bowl games including the 1979 Sugar Bowl.

Dameron and his wife Debbie, have one daughter Krystle.