Head Coach , Assistant Professor, Recruiting Coordinator,
Special Teams Coordinator

- Dan Sullivan

Dan Sullivan is in beginning his third year as head football coach and assistant professor of physical education at Eureka College. A native of Bloomington-Normal, Sullivan served as the co-defensive coordinator at the University of Chicago for two years prior to coming to Eureka. He also handled the duties of video technical director and equipment manager at Chicago. Previously, Sullivan was a defensive assistant coach for one season at Southwest Minnesota State University where he was recruiting coordinator, academic coordinator, assistant director of tournaments, marketing director for football events and coordinator of the university's summer athletics youth camps. Sullivan has also been an assistant defensive coach at Illinois Wesleyan University, Lafayette College (Easton Penn.), Drake University and Loras College.

Sullivan received a bachelor's degree in business management from Loras College in 1997, graduating with cum laude honors. He played outside linebacker and was the leading tackler with 135 his senior year. In 2001, Sullivan received a master's degree in sports administration from Illinois State University.

Also having served as the defensive coordinator in his first two years at Eureka, Sullivan coached 14 IBFC All-Conference players in addition to an Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar. Three Red Devils were selected to the IBFC All-Academic team last season. Dan and his wife Lindsay have two children, son Joseph Daniel and daughter Isabelle Rose.

dsullivan@eureka.edu

Defensive Coordinator - Physical Education Instructor

- Matthew Smiley

Matthew Smiley has been hired in the spring to fill the positions of assistant football coach and physical education instructor. Smiley will handle offensive coordinator duties for the Red Devil football program.

A University of Illinois honors graduate in 2001 with a bachelor's degree in kinesiology, Smiley spent the last two seasons as an assistant at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire. He coached quarterbacks, kickers and punters in 2005 before being named Director of Football Operations and Special Teams Coordinator in March of 2006. Under his leadership, Dartmouth's special teams showed great improvement last season.

Smiley was an assistant coach at the University of North Dakota for four seasons prior to working at Dartmouth. North Dakota won the 2001 Division II National Championship and placed second in 2003 during his tenure. In 2003, North Dakota set a school record in total offense with 4,154 yards with Smiley coaching running backs and scouting opposing defenses. He also earned his M.S. in kinesiology with a sports psychology emphasis from UND in 2004.

A U.S. Air Force First Lieutenant Maintenance officer from 2001-04, Smiley was responsible for daily operations, training and management of 200 troops. He was awarded the USAF Commendation Medal for superior duty during his Operation Enduring Freedom deployment. He was deployed four times - Turkey, Kyrgyzstan (twice) and Diego Garcia.

Smiley played at Illinois in 1997 and 1998 as a wide receiver. He served as a student coach the following two seasons, helping the kickers, punters and long snappers. Illinois played in the MicronPC.com Bowl in 1999.

Matthew and his wife Marissa have one daughter named Madelyn.

msmiley@eureka.edu

Pass Game Coordinator, Director of Football Operations

- Neil Linhart

Linhart is another new addition for the Eureka staff as a wide receivers coach. After four years on the Millikin University team as a wide receiver, he interned as strength and wide receivers coach for the Big Blue during spring practice.

As a senior at Lincoln-Way East High School, the Mokena native was a SICA Blue All-Conference wide receiver, helping his squad to the quarterfinals of the playoffs. He has helped as his alma mater's summer football camp in each of the last two years.

nlinhart@eureka.edu

Mike Johnson - Student Coach

Mike Johnson is in his second year as a student coach for the Red Devils. In 2005, Johnson played a cornerback in the first two games of the season, recording eight tackles. He unfortunately missed the rest of the season due to injury, but has remained an integral part of the team as a coach ever since.

Aaron Smith - Student Coach

Aaron Smith is also in his second year as a student coach after playing his freshman year. Smith had 14 tackles in 2005 as he earning increased playing time toward the end of the season. His focus will be working with the safeties for the second year in a row.