Dec. 4 (UPI) -- Ball State hired Butler's Mike Uremovich as its new football coach, the school announced Wednesday. Uremovich led the Bulldogs to a 23-11 record over the last three seasons.
"My family and I are extremely excited to be a part of the Ball State family," Uremovich said in a news release. "I am thankful for the trust that president [Geoffrey] Mearns and [athletic director] Jeff Mitchell have placed in me to direct this proud football program.
"We are elated about the opportunity to help shape this organization and engage with the Muncie community. I look forward to meeting with the team, and I can't wait to get to work."
The Cardinals went 40-63 over the last nine years under former coach Mike Neu. They went 3-7 through their first 10 games of 2024 and fired Neu in November. Neu led the Cardinals to a 7-1 record and Mid-American Conference title in 2020, his lone season with a winning record.
Offensive line coach Colin Johnson served as interim coach and led the Cardinals to an 0-2 mark over their final two games, including a 42-21 setback to the Ohio Bobcats on Friday in Athens, Ohio.
"Mike Uremovich brings a significant breadth of coaching experience from high school, small college, FCS and FBS levels," Mitchell said. "He has spent time in Group of 5 and Power 4 conference environments. He has an extensive background in both coordinator and head coaching roles, and his recruiting connections are deep.
"What is readily apparent and what will excite our fans and players is the level of urgency and detail in his plan to lead our football program and return the Cardinals to the top of the Mid-American Conference."
Uremovich previously worked on the staffs at Northern Illinois, Temple, North Carolina State, St. Francis, Waynesburg and Benedictine, serving in various roles, including as an offensive coordinator and coaching tight ends, running backs, offensive linemen, wide receivers and special teams.
He also was a positions coach at McCutcheon High School in Lafayette, Ind., and Providence Catholic High School in New Lenox, Ill. He will start as Cardinals coach Wednesday with national signing day.
"Over the past few years, Mike fully embraced the opportunities at Butler and built an incredible culture within our program," Butler athletic director Grant Leiendecker said in a news release.
"That led to success on Saturdays, but also permeated throughout every aspect of Butler Football and a tremendous student-athlete experience. On behalf of all Bulldogs, I want to thank Mike for his many contributions to Butler and we all wish him and his family the very best at Ball State," he said.
"Our football program has a solid foundation and is primed for continued success in the Pioneer Football League. I am confident that we will attract a strong applicant pool and ultimately identify another exceptional Bulldog leader."
