Chicago State University Football Coach Excited To Build Football Program

Chicago State University Cougar Football Coach Bobby Rome. Photo provided by Chicago State University.
Chicago State University Cougar Football Coach Bobby Rome. Photo provided by Chicago State University.

Chicago State University Football Coach Excited To Build Football Program

By Tia Carol Jones

In 2023, Chicago State University announced plans to develop a football team. In April of 2025, Chicago State University announced that Bobby Rome would be its football coach. The first game is set for Aug. 29th and in preparation Coach Rome is building the Cougars Football team from scratch, focusing on hiring outstanding coaches and the right players to build a competitive football team.

“The launch of football at Chicago State ushers in a new era not only for our university, but for the entire city of Chicago. As the city’s only NCAA Division I football program, we are creating history and building a legacy that will inspire pride, opportunity, and community for generations to come. We are proud of the diligence and work that has happened over the last three years. This program will have a lasting impact,” Chicago State University President Zaldwaynaka “Z” Scott said in a release.

Rome said he has been getting phone calls and emails from high schools, junior colleges and universities. He is organizing everything, while simultaneously interviewing coaches to find the right fit for the team. He said it is challenging to build a team from scratch, but he is definitely up for that challenge.

“I look at football as nothing short of a ministry. I feel that this is a calling of mine to be here in Chicago right now, on the South side, building this thing. Everyday, I just try to get up and challenge myself to get the job done,” he said. He acknowledged that while it seems like a daunting task, he is ready for Chicago State’s first Division 1 football program.

Rome said he will set the standard for what he and his staff think a Division 1 football program should look like and deliver. Even though it looks like there is only a short amount of time to build the team, he said with transfer portals and roster turnovers and the landscape of college football, he is looking to add young men who fit the University’s profile. He is looking for young men who want to build and understand what they are walking into. He said it takes a special young man to want to come Chicago State University and build the Cougars football team.

Rome said in his coaching staff, he is looking for coaches that have ties to the Midwest and are familiar with Chicago. He also wants coaches that have Division 1 coaching experience, people who know what kind of competition the team will be facing during the season. He is also looking for coaches who have experience recruiting Division 1 student athletes.

“I’m looking to surround myself with coaches who understand that we’re looking to build something from scratch, we’re looking to bring something that’s going to stand a long time here in Chicago and it’s going to take some special, like-minded individuals to get this thing done,” he said.

Rome said he is confident that he will find those individuals based on the responses he has received in his search for coaches and coordinators. He said he is excited to talk to the coaches and to hear their vision. When it comes to players, Rome said he is looking for student athletes, young men who understand they are committing to building something new. He wants to bring student athletes from Chicago, from Illinois, then branching out to surrounding states and throughout the Midwest. He said he will build the team with the best talent he can find, that fits the profile of Chicago State University.

“Chicago State Football is more than just a new sport it’s the start of a bold tradition,” said Vice President & Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Dr. Monique Carroll said in a release. “Our student-athletes will set the tone for what it means to wear Cougar green on the gridiron, and their impact will echo far beyond the scoreboard. This program is about building community, creating lasting memories, and showing the strength and spirit of Chicago State.”

For more information about Chicago State University Football, visit www.gocsucougars.com.

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