Kim Dameron, Louisiana Tech's defensive co-ordinator, has been named the 24th head football coach at Eastern Illinois University (EIU). This will be his second chapter at EIU. He was the school's defensive coordinator in 2000.
Dameron succeeds Dino Babers, who stepped down to become head coach at Bowling Green in December. Panthers posted 12-2 last season and progressed to the quarterfinals of Football Championship Subdivision.
This is first head coach assignment for Dameron. He spent the 2013 season as Louisiana Tech's defensive coordinator, his 15th season in the same position. The Bulldogs' defense were listed 69th in the country after being ranked 120th last season. The team let go 408.3 yards and 26.3 points a game after allowing 38 points in 2012.
Prior to LTU, Dameron served as Cornell's defensive coordinator (2011-12). His three decades of coaching experience includes stints with the University of Louisiana at Monroe (the defensive coordinator from 2005-07), Mississippi (three seasons as the safeties coach from 2008-10), Cincinnati (secondary coach from 1996-98), Missouri State (assistant coach from 1986-91), UNLV (assistant coach in 1992), Murray State (defensive co-ordinator from 1993-95) and Stephen F. Austin (2001-04).
The 1999 season saw him as the secondary coach in the Canadian Football League with the Toronto Argonauts.
Dameron's coaching career began as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, Arkansas in 1983. He was a wide receiver and defensive back from 1979 to 1982.
Louisiana Tech received double shock in less than 24 hours. Along with Dameron, Tech linebackers coach Jeff Koonz is leaving the football staff for an assistant coaching position at Cincinnati. The school will launch an immediate national hunt for their replacements.
"I am excited for Kim Dameron to get an opportunity as a head football coach at Eastern Illinois, and I think he will do a great job there," Tech coach Skip Holtz said. "Kim did a great job here, making tremendous progress with our defense. I wish him the best of luck and am excited to see him succeed as a head football coach," the News-Star reports.
