As the Panther football team continues to drive for its first Ohio Valley Conference title in Eastern’s history, it has taken on a much different look.

Eastern’s look is not altered by the look of its uniforms or even its players, but by the new faces on the coaching staff.

The Panthers will enter the season with six new coaches. They include: Charley Molnar, who will coach the wide receivers, Edmund Jones, who is the defensive secondary coach, Steve Farmer, who will lead the offensive line and Roc Bellantoni, who will coach the defensive line.

In addition, Doug Heinz, who played for the Panthers last season, will be a restricted earnings coaches on the offensive side while Tony Turner will be on the defensive end of the ball.

Another change for Eastern will be Chris Wilkerson, who will not only by coaching the linebackers, but also taking on the defensive coordinator duties this season.

Despite all of these changes head coach Bob Spoo has seen on his staff over the last year, Spoo says he is not worried the least bit.

“There hasn’t been a problem that I have seen at all,” Spoo said. “All of the coaches are familiar with our system and the way we do things, just as our players are familiar with them.”

With the exception of Jones, the advantages that every coach shares is that they were all with the Panthers throughout spring practices.

“I think that spring practice helped all of us become more familiar with the players,” Molnar said. “Working under coach Spoo has been great, and I think all of us came here for a reason and are trying to be a small part of the puzzle.”

With so many new coaches there comes a lot of new methods and terminology that each coach brings with them, but Bellantoni feels that both the new and the old coaches have intertwined to learn from each other.

“I think all of the coaches bring something to the table, and that in turn helps all of us,” Bellantoni said. “On the defensive side of the ball, coach Wilkerson is really open to suggestions from all of us. Just as we have opened his suggestions to us.”

With coming to a new program, moving into a new town and coaching new kids, the coaches feel that the transition has gone as planned.

“I think we have all made a smooth transition into the program,” Molnar said. “The way that the coaches have been to help us to adjust has been great.”

INJURY REPORT:

Wide receiver Kenny Alsop is still struggling with an ankle injury that may keep him out until the middle of the season.