Coach Cole Hoover has not only completed his first year of coaching the tight ends where he played collegiately, but he also got promoted to the new offensive line coach—a role his father had when he coached at Eastern.  

Hoover moved around due to his father’s job but ultimately stayed in Charleston for the majority of his life.  

Jeff Hoover, Cole Hoover’s father, was the offensive line coach for the Panthers for three seasons before he passed away in a car crash after a game in 2009.  

After his dad passed away, Cole Hoover said the university and the football program supported him and his family.  

Because of the support the program gave Hoover, he said there has always been “unfinished business” with him and Eastern’s football program. Hoover felt a need to give back to the university in any way possible, so attending Eastern to play college football was a big deal for him.  

Now, Hoover is entering his second year of coaching the Panthers, switching from the tight ends coach to the offensive line coach.  

Hoover said head coach Chris Wilkerson called him during winter break to tell him about the promotion and coaching change, and Hoover said that was the easiest phone call Wilkerson and Hoover had.  

When Wilkerson offered him the offensive line coaching position, Hoover felt honored both Wilkerson and offensive coordinator Kyle Derickson trusted him enough to give him the promotion.  

Moving to an office that’s practically a hop, skip and a jump away from another wasn’t difficult for Hoover, but now working in the same office his dad did feel surreal at first to Hoover.  

“It feels weird to be in here again,” Hoover said. “It’s cool, and I’m so honored and thankful to be in this position and to also physically be in this position feels surreal. It doesn’t feel real any day.”  

Offensive lineman Nic DiSanto is coming up on his third year with the Panthers. With the coaching change, DiSanto said he is excited for the offensive line and the opportunity they have to work with Hoover.  

“I feel like it’s a great move for the team but especially for the offensive line,” DiSanto said. “The vibes are really high right now in the room knowing that he grew up in Charleston, he played here and now he’s coaching here. It means so much to him, and he has a lot of passion for the game and a passion for EIU.”  

Although Hoover now has his dad’s old job, he said he doesn’t feel like it’s a full circle moment just yet.  

If anything, he thinks of how life was dealt to him and said he is humbled.  

“I don’t want to say it’s fully full circle because I don’t think we’re done yet, but I could’ve never imagined that when we came here when my dad was a coach, I’d be coaching in the same spot or even playing in the same spot,” Hoover said. “Those are just dreams, and for them to be real is humbling every single day.”  

DiSanto said Hoover’s coaching style is gritty and explosive, and because Hoover has been around the program for so long, knowing the premise of the “hard hat, lunch pail” mentality, it helps the players connect to him more.  

“You’re not going to have great technique 24/7, but as long as you’re mauling the dude across from you every time, then he’ll give you credit for it,” DiSanto said.  

Redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Panayiotis Mihalopoulos said Hoover has positive energy that also comes with hard love throughout his coaching.  

Junior offensive lineman Sandro Malicevic said Hoover is a coach that brings a serious tone, but he also brings humor throughout practices.  

“While he focuses on discipline and improvement, he also uses humor to keep us engaged and motivated,” Malicevic said. “This approach helps maintain intensity while making practices enjoyable.”   

Although he now has a new coach in Mason Keeler, redshirt junior tight end Alex Herrera said he liked having Hoover as his coach during the 2024 season.   

“Having an offensive line background, he knows how to run the ball,” Herrera said. “What makes him so special is how much he cares about the place.”  

Looking ahead for the spring, Hoover is excited and ready to work hands on with the offensive line to make sure there’s growth within the room every day.  

“I think the group is really hungry and knows they think they left some stuff out there last year,” Hoover said. “We just got to get back to work. Every single day, having the mindset of growth, whether it’s one step forward or two steps forward.”  

Zaria Flippin can be reached at 581-2812 or at zhflippin@eiu.edu.