Coach U's Introduction: Welcome to Muncie!
December 06, 2024 | Football
MUNCIE, Ind. — Newly minted Ball State head football coach Mike Uremovich greeted a gathering of media and University community members Friday afternoon inside the Alumni Center. Uremovich, who arrives in Muncie after collecting 23 wins in three seasons at Butler, said his vision for the program will center around three pillars: "championship" effort, attitude and accountability.
"Those are the three things that we're going to talk about all the time," Uremovich said. "We have everything we possibly need to win here. We've got a great facility across the street that you can train and develop championship football teams in, and we have a community that wants to see a winner and wants to support a winner."
Uremovich summarized his brand of football as "physical," highlighting his focus on instilling the desire for consistent execution among his players.
"I don't worry about statistics," Uremovich said. "I worry about executing, scoring and stopping. We've got to reinforce that with our guys, and it's not just being negative. It's every time we have a great workout, we've got to tell them that's exactly what it's supposed to look like. Now guess what? You've got to do it tomorrow."
Uremovich is no stranger to the Mid-American Conference (MAC), having spent four seasons as an assistant at rival Northern Illinois. He expressed his appreciation for the challenge posed by the perennially competitive conference and aims to guide the Cardinals to consistent success in the league.
"The MAC is a great conference because all of the teams are fairly close," Uremovich said. They're competitive football games. The way that you win is first of all is you don't beat yourself: you don't have penalties; you don't turn the football over; you've got to win on special teams. And then in a lot of those games, you've got to be a tougher, more physical team to win in the fourth quarter. That's what you've got to do."
President Geoffrey Mearns and Director of Athletics Jeff Mitchell each spoke to the sizable crowd to express their excitement about Uremovich's hire.
"With Coach U, our team will play hard, and our team will compete and our team will excel," Mearns said. "Our student athletes will continue to excel in our classrooms, and our players and our coaches will continue to represent us on campus and in the community with character and integrity. I'm so proud, and I'm so excited that Coach U and his family have decided to become Ball State Cardinals, because our best days lie ahead."
Mitchell emphasized that "we are all in this together" in remarks, showing appreciation for Uremovich's "family" approach to leading a football program.
"I believe we're stronger today with Mike Uremovich as our head football coach," Mitchell said. "Here is an exceptional leader and recruiter who cares deeply about his family, his players and his staff."
Uremovich was announced Wednesday as the 19th head coach in the program's 100-year history. The Gary, Indiana, native brings nearly 30 years of coaching experience to his new post with the Cardinals, most recently spending three campaigns as Butler's head coach. In his time leading the Bulldogs, he produced three-consecutive winning seasons (a feat the program had not seen since the late '80s) and catapulted the squad to its first-ever FCS national ranking in 2024.
Prior to his successful tenure at Butler, Uremovich made a number of stops across the college football landscape. He debuted as a head coach at St. Francis (Ill.), where he spent the 2005-2011 seasons. In his final year at the helm, he directed the Fighting Saints to an NAIA national tournament berth and a league title.
Uremovich also enjoyed great success as an offensive coordinator and assistant coach in various capacities. He brings FBS assistant experience from his stints at NC State (2013-15), Northern Illinois (2012, 2016-18) and Temple (2019-21). The experienced leader said his diverse coaching background, which ranges from time spent at the high school level to the FBS ranks, provided a wealth of football knowledge that will pay dividends during his time in Muncie.
"I'm excited to bring that here," Uremovich said. "All the experiences I just talked about are why I'm standing here ready to be your head football coach."
"Those are the three things that we're going to talk about all the time," Uremovich said. "We have everything we possibly need to win here. We've got a great facility across the street that you can train and develop championship football teams in, and we have a community that wants to see a winner and wants to support a winner."
Uremovich summarized his brand of football as "physical," highlighting his focus on instilling the desire for consistent execution among his players.
"I don't worry about statistics," Uremovich said. "I worry about executing, scoring and stopping. We've got to reinforce that with our guys, and it's not just being negative. It's every time we have a great workout, we've got to tell them that's exactly what it's supposed to look like. Now guess what? You've got to do it tomorrow."
Uremovich is no stranger to the Mid-American Conference (MAC), having spent four seasons as an assistant at rival Northern Illinois. He expressed his appreciation for the challenge posed by the perennially competitive conference and aims to guide the Cardinals to consistent success in the league.
"The MAC is a great conference because all of the teams are fairly close," Uremovich said. They're competitive football games. The way that you win is first of all is you don't beat yourself: you don't have penalties; you don't turn the football over; you've got to win on special teams. And then in a lot of those games, you've got to be a tougher, more physical team to win in the fourth quarter. That's what you've got to do."
President Geoffrey Mearns and Director of Athletics Jeff Mitchell each spoke to the sizable crowd to express their excitement about Uremovich's hire.
"With Coach U, our team will play hard, and our team will compete and our team will excel," Mearns said. "Our student athletes will continue to excel in our classrooms, and our players and our coaches will continue to represent us on campus and in the community with character and integrity. I'm so proud, and I'm so excited that Coach U and his family have decided to become Ball State Cardinals, because our best days lie ahead."
Mitchell emphasized that "we are all in this together" in remarks, showing appreciation for Uremovich's "family" approach to leading a football program.
"I believe we're stronger today with Mike Uremovich as our head football coach," Mitchell said. "Here is an exceptional leader and recruiter who cares deeply about his family, his players and his staff."
Uremovich was announced Wednesday as the 19th head coach in the program's 100-year history. The Gary, Indiana, native brings nearly 30 years of coaching experience to his new post with the Cardinals, most recently spending three campaigns as Butler's head coach. In his time leading the Bulldogs, he produced three-consecutive winning seasons (a feat the program had not seen since the late '80s) and catapulted the squad to its first-ever FCS national ranking in 2024.
Prior to his successful tenure at Butler, Uremovich made a number of stops across the college football landscape. He debuted as a head coach at St. Francis (Ill.), where he spent the 2005-2011 seasons. In his final year at the helm, he directed the Fighting Saints to an NAIA national tournament berth and a league title.
Uremovich also enjoyed great success as an offensive coordinator and assistant coach in various capacities. He brings FBS assistant experience from his stints at NC State (2013-15), Northern Illinois (2012, 2016-18) and Temple (2019-21). The experienced leader said his diverse coaching background, which ranges from time spent at the high school level to the FBS ranks, provided a wealth of football knowledge that will pay dividends during his time in Muncie.
"I'm excited to bring that here," Uremovich said. "All the experiences I just talked about are why I'm standing here ready to be your head football coach."
Football // Celebrating Coach Uremovich first win
Wednesday, September 17
Football // Kiael Kelly Singing Fight Song after WIN
Wednesday, September 17
Football // Recap Video - Family Weekend Win vs. New Hampshire
Wednesday, September 17
Ball State Football // Weekly Press Conference: Connecticut
Tuesday, September 16