MUNCIE, Ind. – Ball State University has introduced at present the naming of Mike Uremovich as its head soccer coach.
Uremovich’s naming as this system’s nineteenth head soccer coach comes two weeks after the nine-year tenure of coach Mike Neu was terminated after the primary 10 video games of the 2024 season. Offensive line coach Colin Johnson led the Cardinals by means of two remaining video games following the management change on Nov. 16.
Ball State’s search produced a talented candidate with wide-ranging expertise and a wide range of successes as head coach and coordinator at a number of ranges. Most lately, Uremovich (pronounced you-REM-uh-vitch) was the top coach at Butler University, guiding the Bulldogs to 3 straight profitable seasons, the primary nationwide rating in program historical past and an inventory of successes on each side of the ball.
“Mike Uremovich brings a big breadth of teaching expertise from highschool, small school, FCS and FBS ranges,” stated Director of Athletics Jeff Mitchell. “He has hung out in Group of 5 and Power 4 convention environments. He has an intensive background in each coordinator and head teaching roles, and his recruiting connections are deep. What is quickly obvious and what’s going to excite our followers and gamers is the extent of urgency and element in his plan to steer our soccer program and return the Cardinals to the highest of the Mid-American Conference.”
Uremovich’s tenure at Ball State begins with nationwide signing day on Wednesday.
“My household and I are extraordinarily excited to be part of the Ball State household,” stated Uremovich. “I’m grateful for the belief that President [Geoffrey] Mearns and Jeff Mitchell have positioned in me to direct this proud soccer program. We are elated concerning the alternative to assist form this group and have interaction with the Muncie neighborhood. I stay up for assembly with the staff, and I can not wait to get to work.”
Named the top coach at Butler three years in the past, Uremovich guided the Bulldogs to 3 straight profitable seasons and a 23-11 report. A 9-3 mark in 2024 led to the primary nationwide rating in Butler’s soccer historical past, debuting within the FCS Coaches Poll at No. 25 and rising as excessive as No. 23. His three profitable seasons at Butler had been this system’s first string of three consecutive profitable seasons since 1987 to 1989.
Uremovich, 48, arrives in Muncie with six bowl appearances beneath his belt and prior teaching expertise within the Mid-American Conference, spending six seasons over three separate stints at Northern Illinois. In 4 years in a full-time capability at NIU, the Huskies had been 33-20 general with a 25-7 ledger within the MAC.
He is the second Ball State soccer teaching rent named straight from Butler and he’s the second coach in latest weeks to emerge from the Pioneer Football League (PFL) to imagine an FBS head teaching job. Scott Abell resigned from his put up at Davidson on Nov. 26, to take over at Rice.
At Butler, Uremovich guided the Bulldogs to a 7-4 season in 2022 and once more in 2023, recording 5 PFL victories annually. Over three years on the helm of this system, the Bulldogs had been 15-9 in opposition to league opponents and 15-4 general when taking part in contained in the Sellick Bowl.
The PFL’s Offensive Player of the Year was tutored by Uremovich in every of his first two years on the BU campus. Running again Jyran Mitchell earned the glory in 2023 whereas quarterback Bret Bushka was the selection in 2022, alongside punter and placekicker Luka Zurak who was the PFL’s Special Teams Player of the Year the identical yr.
Butler offenses had nice success shifting the ball through the three-year Uremovich period. Leading all FCS groups nationally in purple zone offense and sacks allowed in 2022, the Bulldogs ranked first or second within the PFL in scoring offense, whole offense and dashing offense in each 2023 and 2024. BU’s 214.4 rush yards per recreation final season had been seventh amongst FCS groups and its 407.8 yards of whole offense ranked twenty eighth.
While the Bulldogs’ offense averaged 35.6 factors and 407.8 yards per recreation in 2024, the protection was equally as spectacular as BU led the PFL and ranked fourth within the FCS with simply 16.3 factors allowed per recreation. In 2023, the Bulldogs led the league and ranked seventh nationally by permitting a median of solely 17.5.
Butler boasted a prime 10 FCS rating final yr in factors allowed (4th) in addition to factors scored (ninth).
Uremovich arrived in Indianapolis after serving because the offensive coordinator at Temple for 3 seasons (2019-21). The Owls reached the Military Bowl in 2019 which was the newest of six bowl appearances between stints at Temple, NIU and North Carolina State.
Prior to Temple, Uremovich coached at Northern Illinois throughout three separate stints, together with his put up as assistant head coach and offensive coordinator from 2016-18. NIU received the 2018 MAC championship and earned bowl appearances in each 2017 and 2018. The 2016 version of the Huskies was sixteenth nationally in dashing yards, whereas future NFL Pro Bowl choice Kenny Golladay had 87 catches for 1,156 yards and eight TDs.
He beforehand served because the Huskies’ working backs coach and particular groups coordinator in 2012, and as a graduate assistant from 2001-02. In 2012, NIU received the MAC championship and have become the one MAC staff to play in a Bowl Championship Series recreation when the Huskies earned a berth within the 2013 Orange Bowl. The Huskies completed ninth within the nation in each dashing and scoring offense that season and had been ranked fifteenth nationally in whole offense, whereas NIU particular groups models ranked fifth within the nation in kickoff protection and fourth in punt protection. Both the 2001 and 2002 groups received MAC West Division titles.
Uremovich coached the offensive line at North Carolina State from 2013-15, the place he helped the Wolfpack to a pair of bowl appearances. Behind his offensive line, the 2014 Wolfpack posted the fourth-best dashing whole at school historical past and one of the best per-game common since 1992.
He had a profitable seven-year tenure (2005-11) as head coach on the University of St. Francis, an NAIA program primarily based in Joliet, Illinois. In 2011, he led the Fighting Saints to their most profitable season at school historical past as they received a school-record 10 video games. The staff was ranked as excessive as No. 8 within the NAIA nationwide coaches ballot and likewise earned the primary nationwide playoff victory in program historical past. Uremovich led the Saints to a 17-7 report over his closing two seasons. Overall, he posted a 33-45 report, rebuilding a program that had received a complete of 4 video games over three seasons previous to his arrival.
In addition to serving as a graduate assistant at Northern Illinois, Uremovich’s early teaching profession additionally included stints at Waynesburg College (Pa.), Benedictine University (Ill.), Providence Catholic (Ill.) High School and McCutcheon (Ind.) High School. Uremovich is a 2000 graduate of Purdue. He obtained his grasp’s diploma from Northern Illinois in 2002. He and his spouse, Katie, have a daughter, Ella (19), and two sons, Michael (17) and Drew (13).
Uremovich’s Coaching Career
Dec. 4, 2024 – Ball State; Head Coach
2022-24 – Butler; Head Coach
2019-21 – Temple; Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator/TEs
2016-18 – Northern Illinois; Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator/TEs
2013-15 – North Carolina State; Offensive Line Coach
2012 – Northern Illinois; Special Teams Coordinator/Running Backs Coach
2005-11 – University of St. Francis (Ill.); Head Coach
2003-04 – Waynesburg College (Pa.); Offensive Coordinator
2001-02 – Northern Illinois; Graduate Assistant
2000 – Benedictine University (Ill.); Special Teams Coordinator/Wide Receivers Coach
1998-99 – Providence Catholic High School (Ill.); Wide Receivers Coach
1996-97 – McCutcheon High School (Ind.); Special Teams Coordinator/Defensive Backs Coach
Season tickets for the 2025 Ball State soccer season are on sale now at an unique presale worth. To make the most of new and unique presale charges, renew or purchase new season tickets by Dec. 20, 2024. Learn extra HERE.
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