(1937-11-02)November 2, 1937 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Died
October 15, 2018(2018-10-15) (aged 80) Rockford, Illinois, U.S.
Playing career
1956–1958
Purdue
Position(s)
Quarterback
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1961
Fenwick HS (IL) (assistant)
1962
St. Laurence HS (IL)
1963–1966
Loyola Academy (IL) (backfield)
1967–1972
Loyola Academy (IL)
1973–1977
Wisconsin (QB)
1978–1984
Purdue (QB)
1985–1986
Purdue (OC)
1987–2005
Eastern Illinois
2007–2011
Eastern Illinois
Head coaching record
Overall
144–131–1 (college)
Bowls
1–8 (NCAA D-I-AA/FCS playoffs)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
1 Gateway Football (1995) 4 OVC (2001–2002, 2005, 2009)
Awards
Gateway Football Coach of the Year (1995) 3× OVC Coach of the Year (2001, 2005, 2009)
Robert Allen Spoo (November 2, 1937 – October 15, 2018) was an American college football coach. He served as the head football coach at Eastern Illinois University from 1987 to 2011 (with an interruption in 2006 due to surgery), compiling a record of 144–131–1. Spoo led the Eastern Illinois Panthers to five conference titles, nine playoff berths, and ten finishes in the Top 25 polls. He coached nine First Team All-Americans, including Tristan Burge and Tony Romo.
Spoo was an alumnus of Purdue University and a former quarterback on the Purdue Boilermakers football team. Prior to receiving the head coaching position at Eastern Illinois, Spoo served as an assistant at Purdue and the University of Wisconsin–Madison. He also coached at the high school level.
Spoo and his wife, Suzie, had one daughter. After retiring, the Spoos continued to reside in Charleston, Illinois. He died on October 15, 2018, at the age of 80.[1][2]
^"Hall of Fame EIU coach passes away". The News-Gazette. Champaign, Illinois. October 15, 2018. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
^"Robert Spoo". Journal Gazette & Times-Courier. Mattoon, Illinois. October 19, 2018. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
Robert Allen Spoo (November 2, 1937 – October 15, 2018) was an American college football coach. He served as the head football coach at Eastern Illinois...
Spoo may refer to: BobSpoo (1937–2018), American college football coach Caspar Mathias Spoo (1837–1914), Luxembourgish industrialist and politician Spoo...
the new head football coach at Eastern Illinois University to replace BobSpoo. In two seasons at Eastern Illinois, the Panthers made the playoffs both...
All-Ohio Valley Conference Newcomer Team honors playing under head coach BobSpoo. Garoppolo went on to start every remaining game during his time at Eastern...
line coach. In the 2006 season, he jumped in as acting head coach when BobSpoo was sidelined after surgery. The team finished with an 8–5 season record...
1967 Frank Maloney Mount Carmel (CCL) 1968 Loui Guida Mendel (CCL) 1969 BobSpoo Loyola Academy (CCL) 1970 Pat Cronin St. Rita (CCL) 1972 Tom Kavanaugh...
the 2002 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by 16th-year head coach BobSpoo, the Panthers compiling an overall record of 8–4 and shared the OVC title...
the 2003 NCAA Division I-AA football season. Led by 17th-year head coach BobSpoo, the Panthers compiled an overall record of 4–8 with a mark of 3–5 in conference...
Earl Carroll, African-American lead vocalist for The Cadillacs (d. 2012) BobSpoo, American football coach (d. 2018) November 4 W. Dabney Stuart, American...
Conference (OVC) during the 2011 NCAA Division I FCS football season. Led by BobSpoo in his 24th and final year as head coach, the Panthers compiled an overall...
Eastern Illinois, Hazell worked under former Purdue starting quarterback BobSpoo, who was in his second year with the program. The following year however...
Serena, 77, Spanish footballer (Real Madrid, Sant Andreu, national team). BobSpoo, 80, American football coach (Eastern Illinois Panthers). Joe Stanka, 87...
Randall Cunningham is unknown—except to pro scouts". Sports Illustrated. Bob French (1997-06-15). "Obituaries: Ralph Anson Kohl, Retired NFL Scout". Sun...
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