Bobby Rome was hired April 8 as the new head coach at Chicago State University, which is launching an FCS program in 2026. (Photo by GoCSUCougars.com)
By Barry Bottino
From coaching an American football team in Russia to playing college ball at North Carolina with new Bears head coach Ben Johnson, Bobby Rome’s resume is full of unique stories.
As the new head coach at Chicago State University, Rome is planning to build a new chapter on the South Side of Chicago, where the Cougars will become the state’s fifth FCS program when they hit the field in 2026 as a member of the Northeast Conference.
Rome talked about CSU being his first D-I coaching job – and fourth overall – with Prairie State Pigskin on May 8, which marked 30 days since he took over the Cougars’ program.
This is an edited transcript of the interview.
What are some things that you’ve accomplished in the first 30 days on the job?
The main goal was community engagement and creating stakeholders. I really wanted to involve myself in the community, introducing myself to as many people as possible, speaking to as many people as possible and talking about Chicago State football while finding and creating stakeholders. We all know running a football program costs money, so a great, solid foundation for our program is going to stand forever. I don’t want a situation where it’s going to be here one day and gone the next. We want a sustainable football program. That starts here in the community on the South Side of Chicago, creating stakeholders among people about recruiting and showing them the opportunity we’re creating here.
What are some groups you’ve met and events you’ve attended?
We were in front of all the (TV) news stations, all across Chicago. We showed that Chicago State football is here. Social media-wise, we’ve started our Chicago State football pages and pushed out a lot of content. We got the most hits (Chicago State athletics) has ever gotten since the football push got going.
We’ve spoken to Sneakers and Scrubs (an organization dedicated to empowering minority youths to build careers in healthcare). I’ve been active on 75th Street Community Day. I spoke with a number of people on 75th street on the Spend in the Black Day (to support local black-owned businesses). I decided to go out in the community myself. It wasn’t planned by the university. I wanted to meet as many people as possible.
Our athletic director, Dr. (Monique) Carroll has also taken me around to the community center at Gately Park. I met the people in charge out there. I’ve been to different stadiums and arenas in the community.
I’ve met potential stakeholders from churches to community leaders to politicians. I met mayor Brandon Johnson as well.
What has the response been like?
It’s been fun. People are eager to make this football program happen. I’ve felt nothing but support from everyone. Even people who would see Chicago State on my shirt or my hat somewhere, they’d say, ‘I see you’re starting football. Let’s do it!’ We’re excited about that. Around school, everyone’s excited. “Coach, when are we hitting the field?” That excitement is at an all-time high. I’m excited to be leading the charge.
What’s to come in the next 30 to 120 days for you and the program?
I want to get started on bringing a staff in. I want to bring in a quality staff that can help me get out in the community and recruit. I want to get with the high school coaches, not just visiting every individual high school. I want to get them all in one location and talk about Chicago State football. I want to make sure I’m there for them. Any events they have, let’s get out there and ingratiate ourselves in things that they’re doing — 7-on-7 events, show up to their workouts, to the practices. I want to potentially get a camp off the ground between now and this summer. I’d love to do something like that.
I’d also like to drop in and visit my teammate over with the Chicago Bears, Ben Johnson, and see what I can learn.
Hopefully I’ll have an opportunity to go drop in on a few of our FCS programs around Illinois and get to some NEC games as well. They’ve been doing it for a while and we’re just getting started. Hopefully I can pick up things along the way and see what they’re doing.
Would you like to eventually play the four other Illinois FCS programs?
I would love to. I’m sure they’d love to. First things first, we’ve got to make it a reality and have our stakeholders help push this thing forward.
Do you have a timeline to build your staff and start recruiting?
I hope to start building a staff soon, within the next month or so. We haven’t spoken about a timeframe (for recruiting), but we’re eager to hit the ground running as much as we can. We have a plan on how we’re going to attack recruiting. We understand the (recruiting) windows and we understand that Chicago is full of a lot of talent. A lot of untapped talent that doesn’t get recruited. We’re happy to tap into that to start our program. With the transfer portal booming away, if we have to bring in some guys to fill some gaps, we’ll do that. First things first, we want to build a solid foundation.
When the administration launched the head coaching search, they said they were looking for a unicorn. How does your skill set fit that bill?
It takes a coach with a lot of patience. I have a very unique background outside of football. I’ve worked in sales. I’ve worked in recruiting and staffing. I worked in gifts. These areas have helped contribute to me being the head coach here, especially with some of our needs and what we’re trying to do with fundraising and branding our program.
I’ve built programs — one that started off 0-44 — and turned them around. I took over a program that was on a 62-year hiatus.
Me and my wife were talking about this about two years ago. I spent three years over in Russia, coaching American football. I never knew in a million years it would help me land my first Division I football job. Those experiences have prepared me for the opportunity here at Chicago State.
I’m glad I took all of it seriously when I had the opportunity. All I can do is thank God.
What will your sales pitch be to potential Chicago State football players?
We’re looking for a unique individual. We’ve looking for unique young men that understand the challenges in place here. We are starting a football program from scratch. It’s going to take a unique young man to understand that and understand the patience it takes to get through that journey. I’m looking for young men that are going to be competitive. I’m looking for great students who are going to be potential leaders in their community and be ambassadors for Chicago State football.
At the very least, when you come to Chicago State, you’ll be mentored by some great men, get an outstanding education and play some great football.
Barry Bottino is a co-founder of Prairie State Pigskin and a 19-year veteran of three Illinois newspapers. He has covered college athletics since 1995.
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