'Untapped potential': New East Peoria football coach excited to take over struggling program

Sam Durley has been named the new East Peoria head football coach.

The former record-setting Eureka College quarterback was announced as the new coach Tuesday morning, following school board approval at Monday night's meeting. Durley, who becomes EP's fifth coach since 2013, replaces Dustin Jefferson, whose resignation was approved at Monday's meeting.

“East Peoria, obviously, has had its struggles with football,” Durley told the Journal Star, “but it just kind of screams potential to me and untapped potential. I know there are athletes here. I know there are great kids here. I know I have a great staff that kids are going to want to play for and we can get guys to go out and they can enjoy their experience in the process."

Durley, who will serve as a long-term substitute, comes to EP from Eureka College where he spent the 2023 season as the first full-time offensive coordinator in program history. His offense scored 24.7 points a game and averaged 367.9 yards per game (204.5 passing, 163.4 rushing) as the Red Devils finished 4-6.

"With an impressive background, Durley brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of success to the Raiders’ football program," the school said in a post on X.com.

Former EC defensive coordinator Austin Blair, who was on the EP coaching staff this past season, helped ignite the conversations between Durley and East Peoria. Durley says it was time for him to move on from Eureka College after starting there in 2013, coinciding with head coach Kurt Barth resigning from his post on Tuesday.

Mutual interest between the parties along with Jefferson leaving provided the perfect opportunity for Durley.

“It just ended up working out really well,” said Durley, who will run a spread offense with the ability to go pro style, “and something about East Peoria and the situation they’re in and what they could be down the road, potential-wise was just extremely intriguing.”

During his four-year playing career at EC, Durley made national headlines with his current all-division NCAA record of 736 passing yards against Knox College on Sept. 1, 2012. He still holds career records for passing yards (8,162), completions (572), pass attempts (1,141) and passing touchdowns (61).

Jefferson spent four seasons as EP head coach, taking over the job in Feb. 2020 just before the pandemic shut down Illinois high school football until spring 2021. The former Illinois linebacker went 4-27 in that time. East Peoria has gone 17-76 since its last winning season in 2012 when Doug Martin led the Raiders to a 7-3 mark and a berth in the Class 5A playoffs.

Victories, forfeits and hope: How East Peoria football handled a turbulent 2022 season

Three all-Mid-Illini Conference players — wide receiver Joe Clark (first team), offensive lineman Connor Lieschedit (second team) and defensive lineman Jose DelToro (second team) — are expected to return for their senior seasons at EP, which 2-7 this past season but lost its final five in a row.

“I know it’s a challenge,” Durley said, “but it’s a challenge that I’m not really unfamiliar with.”

Right now, Durley's focus is growing interest for the program within the high school and feeder schools.

“You got to start early,” he said. “You got to start building relationships. You have to be in contact with the JFL coaches and you have to kind of go towards the same goals. Relationships and alignment are a huge first step in the process.

“It’s got to start right away.”

Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: East Peoria football hires former Eureka College player Sam Durley as coach