The Chicago State Cougars have hired Bobby Rome II as the first football coach in school history. Rome will be tasked with building CSU’s program as it looks to begin FCS play as early as 2026.
Rome has been the head coach at three previous colleges, starting with Virginia-Lynchburg in 2018 and 2019. The Dragons compete in the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCAA) and Rome went 3-16 overall during those two seasons. He was then hired as head coach of the Central State Mauraders (NCAA D-II SIAC) for the 2020 and 2021 seasons. Central State didn’t play in 2020 and Rome posted a 1-5 overall record before resigning during the 2021 season.
Rome’s most recent head coaching position was with the NAIA’s Florida Memorial Lions. FMU had previously reinstated football with the 2020 season, and Rome went 3-7 during his inaugural season as head coach in 2022. In 2023, the Lions improved to 6-4 overall and finished 3rd in the Sun Conference. The 2024 season saw FMU go 6-3-1 overall and a 4th-place finish in the Sun. Rome is 19-35-1 overall and 10-9 in conference games.
Photo Credit to Florida Memorial University Athletics
