CHICAGO (April 8, 2025) –
Chicago State University (CSU) introduced Bobby Rome II as the school's first ever head-football coach at a press conference earlier today. Rome will be charged with building CSU's Division 1 FCS (Football Championship Subdivision) program from the ground up. "The University is looking forward to watching Coach Rome step into the role and build a program that makes Chicago State, the South Side and all of Chicago proud," said Zaldwaynaka Scott, president of Chicago State University. "This hire is a testament to the recent growth and transformation of Chicago State, showcasing our commitment to the community, our students and staff."
Chicago State will mark Coach Rome's fourth head coaching position, most recently at Florida Memorial University (FMU), an HBCU, from 2022 - 2024. The former University of North Carolina Tarheel led the program's turnaround, taking the team from zero conference wins to back-to-back Sun Conference Championship game appearances in 2023 and 2024. Coach Rome's strategic thinking, leadership, mentorship and winning mentality led to him being named the 2018 Small College Sports Report National Coach of the Year for his work at Virginia University of Lynchburg. "Being selected to build Chicago State's football program is an honor and I am grateful for the trust President Scott, Dr. Carroll and the entire university have put in me," said Coach Rome. "Our visions are aligned. We want to build a program that is representative of the South Side and bring Chicago along on this exciting journey."
Coach Rome was selected from a pool of more than 230 applicants, including NFL, college and high school coaches, as well as former NFL players. President Scott and Athletic Director
Dr. Monique Carroll, with the support of the search committee, sought a candidate with demonstrated leadership, experience with building new programs, and proven football success. The group also sought a candidate that understand how bringing Football to the Southside can transform our community and the city of Chicago.
"When we embarked on this journey, we wanted to leave no stone unturned and we found the right leader for our program," said Dr. Carroll. "Today is a pivotal day and we need the entire South Side and city of Chicago to join us on our journey. President Scott's vision for CSU aligned with my vision for athletics has allowed us to activate these plans, and we are only scratching the surface of what we can achieve, not just with Coach Rome, but across our entire program."
When CSU launched its effort to bring football to the South Side, it committed to involving key stakeholders in the community. The formation of the exploratory committee, which features members with resumes featuring four Super Bowl Championships, two former Chicago Bears, Chicagoland high school football coaches, multiple Chicago business leaders and non-profit directors, along with key CSU faculty, staff and students, has played a pivotal role in CSU's athletics expansion.
Over the coming months, Coach Rome will focus on building community support.
"The future starts now, and we are ready to get going," said Coach Rome. "Chicago is getting a D1 College Football team, and we couldn't be more excited for it to be on the South Side."
For more information on Coach Rome's hiring, potential sponsorship opportunities or upcoming Chicago State Athletics schedules, visit
GoCSUCougars.com.
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About Chicago State University
Chicago State University, founded in 1867, is the oldest public university in the Chicago Metropolitan area. The University's five colleges offer over 70 undergraduate and graduate degree-granting and non-degree programs. CSU is committed to equity in education, serving as the only U.S. Department of Education-designated four-year Predominantly Black Institution in Illinois and ranked by a Harvard economist in the top 4% of public and private universities nationwide in supporting our graduates' economic mobility. The University serves as a prominent civic space on the greater South Side of Chicago by hosting a multitude of athletic, educational, cultural, and recreational activities. The University is located near public transit that provides convenient access to the campus
About Chicago State Athletics
Chicago State University Athletics is composed of 16 intercollegiate teams involving over 165 student-athletes that compete in basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, tennis, indoor and outdoor track, women's triathlon and volleyball. CSU held memberships in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and NCAA Division II before transitioning to NCAA Division I in 1994. In 2024, the Cougars joined the Northeast Conference as full-time members.
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