Mike Uremovich - Head Coach - Football Coaches (original) (raw)

Mike Uremovich was named the head football coach at Butler in December of 2021. He guided the Bulldogs to a 7-4 season in 2022 and again in 2023, recording five PFL victories each year. Over his first two years at the helm of the program, the Bulldogs have gone 10-6 against league opponents and are 9-3 when playing inside the Bud and Jackie Sellick Bowl.

The Pioneer Football League’s Offensive Player of the Year has been a Butler Bulldog in each year with Uremovich on campus. Running back Jyran Mitchell earned the honor in 2023 while quarterback Bret Bushka was the choice in 2022.

Mitchell was a Third Team All-American (Stats Perform) in 2023, becoming just the 13th player in program history to earn the recognition. He was one of seven Bulldogs to be named All-Conference by PFL head coaches and was one of 10 to be selected to Phil Steele FCS All-PFL Teams.

The Bulldogs once again excelled in the classroom in 2023 placing seven student-athletes on Academic All-PFL Teams. Highlighting that group was Academic All-American Bryan Bystol and his perfect 4.0 GPA.

Butler moved the ball down the field in 2023 to rank second in the PFL in scoring offense (28.9), total offense (368.4), and rushing offense (202.1). The defense was equally as impressive as BU led the PFL and ranked second in the FCS in red zone defense. BU also led the league and ranked seventh among all FCS schools in scoring defense (17.5).

The 2022 season was highlighted by a five-game winning streak from Oct. 8 to Nov. 5. During that stretch, the ‘Dawgs ended Dayton’s longest scoring streak in Division I football (501 games) with a 31-0 shutout victory. Butler outscored Valpo 20-6 in the fourth quarter the next weekend to reclaim the Hoosier Helmet trophy with a 26-25 victory. Two-straight home wins followed on the schedule with Butler topping Marist on homecoming weekend, and then erupting for a season-high 56 points in the outcome over Morehead State. The winning streak was extended into November with a 26-23 win at San Diego, marking just sixth win over San Diego in program history.

Butler averaged 379.4 yards of offense per game in 2022 and led FCS football in red zone offense and sacks allowed. The Bulldogs came up with points on 36 of their 37 red zone trips and only gave up seven sacks all year. BU also led the PFL in fourth down conversion percentage, completion percentage, net punting, and tackles for loss allowed.

Six Bulldogs were selected to All-PFL teams at the conclusion of the regular season and 13 Bulldogs landed on Phil Steele FCS All-PFL Teams. PFL major awards went to Bret Bushka and Luka Zurak. Bushka became the second Butler student-athlete to be named PFL Offensive Player of the Year. Zurak handled all aspects of the kicking game for the Bulldogs in 2022 and was therefore recognized as the PFL Special Teams Player of the Year.

Uremovich arrived in Indianapolis after serving as the assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at Temple for three seasons (2019-21). That followed three seasons in the same role at Northern Illinois (2016-18).

During the 2019 season, Jadan Blue became the first receiver in Temple program history to top the century mark with school records of 1,067 receiving yards and 95 receptions. In addition, running back Re'Mahn Davis rushed for 936 yards and eight touchdowns to rank second all-time on those respective freshman lists. In his first game calling offensive plays for Temple, Uremovich's unit set new school marks with 695 total yards and 507 passing yards against Bucknell (2019).

Prior to Temple, Uremovich coached at Northern Illinois during three separate stints. He returned to the Huskies program in 2016 as the offensive coordinator. NIU won the 2018 Mid-American Conference (MAC) championship and earned bowl appearances in both 2017 and 2018. The 2016 edition of the Huskies was 16th nationally in rushing yards, while future NFL Pro Bowl selection Kenny Golladay had 87 catches for 1,156 yards and eight touchdowns.

He previously served as the Huskies’ running backs coach and special teams coordinator in 2012 under Dave Doeren, and as a graduate assistant for Joe Novak from 2001-02. In 2012, NIU won the MAC Championship and became the only MAC team to play in a Bowl Championship Series game when the Huskies earned a berth in the 2013 Orange Bowl. The Huskies finished ninth in the nation in both rushing and scoring offense that season and were ranked 15th nationally in total offense, while the NIU special teams ranked fifth in the country in kickoff coverage and fourth in punt coverage. Both the 2001 and 2002 teams won MAC West Division titles.

Uremovich coached the offensive line at North Carolina State from 2013-15, where he helped lead the Wolfpack to a pair of bowl appearances. Behind his offensive line, the 2014 Wolfpack posted the fourth-best rushing total in school history and the best per game average since 1992. At N.C. State, he coached Joe Thuney, who started every game at guard for the New England Patriots during four Super Bowl seasons (2014, 2016-18). The All-Pro is now with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Uremovich had a successful seven-year tenure as head coach at the University of St. Francis, the Joliet, Ill.-based NAIA program (2005-11). In 2011, he led the Fighting Saints to their most successful season in school history as they won a school-record 10 games and claimed their first win over an NCAA Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) team when they defeated Georgia State. The team was ranked as high as No. 8 in the NAIA National Coaches Poll and also registered the first NAIA national playoff victory in program history. Uremovich led the Fighting Saints to a 17-7 record over his final two seasons. Overall he posted a 33-45 record, rebuilding a program that had won a total of four games in the three seasons prior to his arrival.

In addition to serving as a graduate assistant at Northern Illinois, Uremovich’s early coaching career also 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 received his master’s degree from Northern Illinois in 2002. He and his wife, Katie, have a daughter, Ella, and two sons, Michael and Drew.

Uremovich’s Coaching Career
2022-current – Butler; Head Coach
2019-21 – Temple; Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator
2016-18 – Northern Illinois; Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator
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

Uremovich as a Head Coach
Butler University (Two Seasons; 14-8 Record)
2023 – 7-4
2022 – 7-4

University of St. Francis (Seven Seasons; 33-45 Record)
2011 – 10-3; NAIA Playoffs
2010 – 7-4
2009 – 3-8
2008 – 7-4
2007 – 3-8
2006 – 1-9
2005 – 2-9