Bob Spoo, Legendary Loyola And Eastern Illinois Coach, Dies At 80

WILMETTE, IL — The former Loyola Academy and Eastern Illinois football coach Bob Spoo died Monday in Rockford at the age of 80, the university announced. Spoo spent 25 seasons on the Eastern Illinois University sidelines and saw nine former players play in the NFL, including quarterbacks Tony Romo and Jimmy Garoppolo.

Spoo coached at Eastern Illinois for 25 years until retiring in 2011 with a record of 144-131-1 with nine FCS playoff appearances, according to the Associated Press. Prior to taking over at EIU, Spoo was an assistant coach at Wisconsin and Purdue, according to the university.

Spoo played quarterback at Purdue, leading the Boilermakers to an 11-5 record in the 1957-58 season before graduating in 1960 and becoming a high school assistant coach in Wilmette.

As Loyola head coach in 1969, he coached the Ramblers to a perfect 11-0 season for only the second time in school history, defeating Lane Tech 26-0 to win the team's third Prep Bowl in five years. Spoo was voted Illinois Coach of the Year in 1969 and the National High School Coach of the Year in 1970.

“Coach Spoo was always a gentleman of the first order,” said James O’Brien, who played for Spoo in the 1970s, as the retired coach was honored at Loyola's 2017 Homecoming game. “He was intense and precise, a perfectionist with a vision and clear plan for victory. Preparation, practice and execution were the hallmarks of his coaching.”

During six seasons in charge at Loyola Academy, he achieved a record of 51-9, and was inducted into the school's athletic Hall of Fame in 1985. He was also inducted into the Ohio Valley Conference Hall of Fame in 2012 and the Eastern Illinois Athletic Hall of Fame in 2015, according to the university.

Today we honored legendary football Coach Bob Spoo (striped polo) for his years of dedication to Rambler athletics #goramblers #Homecoming pic.twitter.com/wUnQS2WDSR
— Loyola Academy (@LoyolaAcademy) September 23, 2017