Head Coach

Kurt Barth

Eureka College turned to one of its own last winter with the hiring of EC Hall of Famer Kurt Barth to take the reins as head coach of the Red Devil football program.  Just the 10th head coach since 1955, Barth brings more than 10 years of coaching experience to Eureka.

A 1998 graduate of Eureka College with a B.S. in physical education, Barth returns to the Eureka coaching staff for the third time overall and first time as head coach.  Shortly following his record-breaking playing career for the Red Devils, Barth served as an assistant coach in 1998, then returned for his second stint on the EC staff from 2003-04 as offensive coordinator.  He made one other stop at the college level, spending the 1999 season as a graduate assistant coach at Defiance College in Defiance, Ohio.

One of the most decorated players in Eureka football history, Barth was a three-time NCAA Division III All-American from 1995-97 and was inducted into the Eureka College Athletics Hall of Fame in 2004.  The Red Devils compiled a 26-14 record during Barth’s time at EC, which included an NAIA playoff berth in 1994 and a 9-1 record in 1995.  He formed a lethal combination with quarterbacks Mike Simpson and John Furmaniak that still brings back vivid memories to many Eureka fans today.

In October of 1997, Barth set the NCAA Division III record in career receiving yards.  He finished with 4,311 yards, currently sixth in NCAA history.  He had 256 career receptions and scored 51 touchdowns.  As a sophomore in 1995, he led the country in receiving yards per game at 133.7. The Red Devils lost just one game that season as Barth recorded 68 catches, 1,337 yards and 18 touchdowns.  Against Concordia (WI) in 1996, Barth had 20 receptions, which is still tied for third-most in a game in NCAA history.  By the time he had completed his EC playing career, Barth ranked second in NCAA Division III for career touchdowns (51), career receiving yards per game (110.5) and touchdowns in a season (18).

He spent the previous four seasons as the head coach at Eureka High School, leading the Hornets to a berth in the IHSA class 4A state playoffs in 2007.  In all, Barth coached 48 all-conference players during his four-year stay at EHS, including a pair of all-state picks.  Barth also coached at the high school level from 2000-2002 as the defensive and special teams coordinator at his alma mater, Fieldcrest High School. 

Following his first stint as an assistant coach on the EC staff, Barth enjoyed two seasons as a professional player.  He was an Indoor Football League Pro Bowl selection in the summer of 2000 for the Duluth-Superior Lumberjacks.  The following summer, Barth was named the most valuable player of the af2’s Peoria Pirates in 2001.

“I’m very excited about the enthusiam Coach Barth brings to the Red Devils,” Director of Athletics Paul Bryant said.  “He knows what it takes to be a great player for this institution because he lived it.  I am confident he is the man that will take this program to the next level.”

Barth will also serve as the track & field coach at Eureka beginning with the 2010 season.

Barth and his wife Becca have two children, Brayson (3) and Kamille (1), and reside in Washington.

Tom Atwell - email
Defensive Coordinator

Defensive Coordinator

Tom Atwell

Tom Atwell comes back to Eureka college after serving as an assistant coach from 1993-95.

A native of Springfield, MO, Atwell has 32 years of coaching experience under his belt. He has 11 years of high school head football coaching experience on various levels, and numerous years as a defensive coordinator.

He received a B.S. from The College of the Ozarks and his M.S. from Central Missouri State University. He is currently teaching in the Peoria Heights School District, where he has been employed since 1984.

Atwell has three children, Laura, Chris and Cory, and six grandchildren.

Joe Duczak - email
Defensive Line

Defensive Line

Joe Duczak

Joe Duczak will take over as defensive line coach in 2009 for Eureka, his first coaching job.

Like the rest of the EC staff, Duczak was a standout performer for the red Devils during his playing career. A 1996 graduate of EC, Duczak was a two-time All-American in 1994-95.

Duczak resides in Bloomington.

Seeff Grauer
Special Teams, RBs

Special Teams, RBs

Seeff Grauer

Seeff Grauer, a former standout player at Eureka, returns to campus to assist with special teams and running backs in 2009.

A 2000 graduate of Eureka College, Grauer played for the Red Devils from 1996-99. He was a two-time All-Illini-Badger Conference selection as a punter. Grauer also contributed as a wide receiver and tight end.

Grauer teaches at an alternative school in Washburn. He and his wife Stacy reside in Eureka and hav two children, Awstace (5) and Ryker (2).

Pete Logan - email
Defensive Backs

Defensive Backs

Pete Logan

Pete Logan joins head coach Kurt Barth as previous members of the Eureka coaching staff return for another stint with the Red Devils. He will coach defensive backs in 2009.

A 1994 graduate of Eureka College, Logan was an All-Illini-Badger Conference choice as a defensive back. Following his playing career, Logan joined the EC coaching staff for six seasons from 1994-99.

Logan and his wife Molly live in Eureka and have two children, Shelby (4) and Emma (1).

Morgan Murphy- email
Offensive Line

Offensive Line

Morgan Murphy

Morgan Murphy returns to Eureka College following a playing career in which he was a two-time All-Illini-Badger Conference selection on the offensive line for the Red Devils. Murphy will coach the offensive line this season for Eureka.

A native of Lincoln, IL, Murphy started for Three seasons at center for Eureka from 2002-04. He played for current head coach Kurt Barth during his final two seasons when Barth was the EC offensive coordinator.

Murphy graduated from Eureka in 2005 and holds a master's degree in special education. He will also return to coach the EC golf team this spring.

Dwayne Siggers - email
Quarterbacks

Quarterbacks

Dwayne Siggers

Dwayne Siggers joins the Eureka College staff as quarterbacks coach after a successful stint as the Eurka quarterback earlier this decade.

The Albion, IL native graduated from EC in 2005 and coached the previous two seasons at Manual High School in Peoria.

Sigger and his wife Stephanie have one child, Shelby (5), and reside in Chillicothe.

Andy Swenson
Running Backs

Running Backs

Andy Swenson

Andy Swenson will return to Eureka College to take over as running backs coach for the Red Devils in 2009.

A two-time All-Illini-Badger Conference selection from 2003-04, Swenson ran for 2,082 yards during his final three seasons at Eureka. He graduated in 2006.

A native of Minonk, IL, Swenson also works as a fireman in Peoria.