Spring Break
'A great impact'
Athletics members remember late assistant coach
Dan Cusack, Neil Schneider, Kevin Murphy & Kevin Maras/Sports Staff
Issue date: 11/6/09 Section: Sports
The Eastern athletic department was in a state of shock Thursday after learning about the death of women's basketball assistant coach Jackie Moore.
When Eastern swimmers Tim Mathieu and Lauren Zillmer arrived for the start of their 6 a.m. practice, everything seemed to be business as usual.
Within minutes of the start of practice, Eastern swimming head coach Matt Bos informed both squads that Moore had passed away Wednesday night at Sarah Bush Regional Hospital.
Moore was 28 years old and in her third season as an assistant for the Eastern women's basketball team.
Bos said he was shocked when he heard the news of Moore's passing.
He said in his limited interaction with Moore, he found her to be a person with a good spirit.
"Working in the same department, you tend to have regular contact with a lot of the same people and she was always a fun person to be around and had such a great spirit about her," Bos said. "She was definitely a good person to get to know and she will be sorely missed."
In response to the tragic passing, the Eastern athletic department canceled all weekend home sporting events.
The Eastern men's basketball team canceled its exhibition against St. Xavier (Chicago) Saturday.
"It was the natural thing to do out of respect to her," Eastern men's basketball head coach Mike Miller said. "It was out of respect, showing appreciation of her and what she meant to Eastern Illinois."
Miller said he does not know whether they will reschedule the exhibition game yet, but he said that right now that does not matter.
"The most important thing right now is to show respect for how much she meant to Eastern," Miller said. "(Moore) had such a great impact on everyone she met."
The men's and women's basketball teams share an office in Lantz Arena and Miller said Moore always brought energy and enthusiasm to the office and her impact wore off on everyone.
"She came in and had that energy everyday and she was able to impact everyone," Miller said.
The Eastern rugby team was supposed to play Michigan State at noon Thursday at Lakeside Rugby Field.
Eastern head coach Frank Graziano said he is in the process of rescheduling the Senior Day game.
"We'll try, but nothing's a guarantee," Graziano said.
He let Michigan State and the coach aware of the situation Thursday morning.
The men's soccer team canceled its final match of the season scheduled Saturday, which was its Senior Day against Missouri State.
The match will not be rescheduled and will go down as a "no-contest" for both teams.
Bos said the Eastern swimming program is still trying to figure out when, and if, the Panthers Saturday swim meet against Western Illinois will be made up.
"At this point we are just trying to make it through this tough time," Bos said. "Eventually, we will look at the possibility of rescheduling the meet."
Mathieu, a junior freestyle swimmer, said he was shocked when he heard the news of Moore's passing.
"Bos told us what he heard and immediately a feeling of sadness began to swell over the room," Mathieu said.
Despite not knowing Moore, Mathieu said he had heard from the Eastern women's basketball team that Moore was a wonderful coach.
"I have heard that the women's basketball team has a fine coaching staff," Matheiu said. "I'm sure that coach Moore was a fine person and that she will be dearly missed by the entire EIU community."
The women's volleyball team canceled two weekend matches in honor of Moore.
The women's basketball team and volleyball team share the court at Lantz Arena; so many of the players knew the assistant coach.
"It was a shock last night," junior middle blocker Jorie Dieter said. "Our coach called us into the gym to inform us and we're all still in shock. She was a great coach and person who always had a smile on her face. She will be missed."
Though the volleyball squad may have to forfeit their two games if they cannot reschedule, they are more than happy to give up their floor to honor Moore.
"There are more important things to be taken care of right now," junior outside hitter Alex Zwettler said. "A death in the EIU athletic family is much more important than playing a game. The women's basketball team and coaches are in our thoughts and prayers during this time."
Compiled by assistant sports editor Dan Cusack with contributions by staff reporters Kevin Murphy, Neil Schneider and Kevin Maras.
When Eastern swimmers Tim Mathieu and Lauren Zillmer arrived for the start of their 6 a.m. practice, everything seemed to be business as usual.
Within minutes of the start of practice, Eastern swimming head coach Matt Bos informed both squads that Moore had passed away Wednesday night at Sarah Bush Regional Hospital.
Moore was 28 years old and in her third season as an assistant for the Eastern women's basketball team.
Bos said he was shocked when he heard the news of Moore's passing.
He said in his limited interaction with Moore, he found her to be a person with a good spirit.
"Working in the same department, you tend to have regular contact with a lot of the same people and she was always a fun person to be around and had such a great spirit about her," Bos said. "She was definitely a good person to get to know and she will be sorely missed."
In response to the tragic passing, the Eastern athletic department canceled all weekend home sporting events.
The Eastern men's basketball team canceled its exhibition against St. Xavier (Chicago) Saturday.
"It was the natural thing to do out of respect to her," Eastern men's basketball head coach Mike Miller said. "It was out of respect, showing appreciation of her and what she meant to Eastern Illinois."
Miller said he does not know whether they will reschedule the exhibition game yet, but he said that right now that does not matter.
"The most important thing right now is to show respect for how much she meant to Eastern," Miller said. "(Moore) had such a great impact on everyone she met."
The men's and women's basketball teams share an office in Lantz Arena and Miller said Moore always brought energy and enthusiasm to the office and her impact wore off on everyone.
"She came in and had that energy everyday and she was able to impact everyone," Miller said.
The Eastern rugby team was supposed to play Michigan State at noon Thursday at Lakeside Rugby Field.
Eastern head coach Frank Graziano said he is in the process of rescheduling the Senior Day game.
"We'll try, but nothing's a guarantee," Graziano said.
He let Michigan State and the coach aware of the situation Thursday morning.
The men's soccer team canceled its final match of the season scheduled Saturday, which was its Senior Day against Missouri State.
The match will not be rescheduled and will go down as a "no-contest" for both teams.
Bos said the Eastern swimming program is still trying to figure out when, and if, the Panthers Saturday swim meet against Western Illinois will be made up.
"At this point we are just trying to make it through this tough time," Bos said. "Eventually, we will look at the possibility of rescheduling the meet."
Mathieu, a junior freestyle swimmer, said he was shocked when he heard the news of Moore's passing.
"Bos told us what he heard and immediately a feeling of sadness began to swell over the room," Mathieu said.
Despite not knowing Moore, Mathieu said he had heard from the Eastern women's basketball team that Moore was a wonderful coach.
"I have heard that the women's basketball team has a fine coaching staff," Matheiu said. "I'm sure that coach Moore was a fine person and that she will be dearly missed by the entire EIU community."
The women's volleyball team canceled two weekend matches in honor of Moore.
The women's basketball team and volleyball team share the court at Lantz Arena; so many of the players knew the assistant coach.
"It was a shock last night," junior middle blocker Jorie Dieter said. "Our coach called us into the gym to inform us and we're all still in shock. She was a great coach and person who always had a smile on her face. She will be missed."
Though the volleyball squad may have to forfeit their two games if they cannot reschedule, they are more than happy to give up their floor to honor Moore.
"There are more important things to be taken care of right now," junior outside hitter Alex Zwettler said. "A death in the EIU athletic family is much more important than playing a game. The women's basketball team and coaches are in our thoughts and prayers during this time."
Compiled by assistant sports editor Dan Cusack with contributions by staff reporters Kevin Murphy, Neil Schneider and Kevin Maras.
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