INDIANAPOLIS — The University of Indianapolis has promoted Bob Bartolomeo (pronounced bart-o-lo-MAY-o) to its head football coaching position. After six seasons as the Greyhounds' defensive coordinator, he will assume his new role immediately.  Former coach Joe Polizzi stepped down earlier this month.

With 35 years of experience, primarily in central Indiana, Bartolomeo has coached at nearly every level, from high school to Division II to Division I bowl games.

“We believe that our own Bob Bartolomeo is the right person to lead our football program forward,” UIndy Director of Athletics Dr. Sue Willey said.  “He has taken our defense to the top of a highly competitive league and is strongly supported throughout the city and state. If you look at history, Coach “Bart” was the Defensive Coordinator for six years before he became the head coach at Butler.   Butler went on to win the conference in just his second year as head coach.  It worked well for Butler and we believe it will be great for UIndy as well.”

This fall, the UIndy defense under Bartolomeo led the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletics Conference in both total defense and pass defense. Four players earned all-league honors, including junior Craig Ray and sophomore Mike Dum, who will return next season.

In 2008, Bartolomeo coached six defensive players to All-GLIAC honors, including three named to the Second Team and three earning Honorable Mention. The previous year, four players earned All-GLIAC First Team selections. Nine times in Bartolomeo's tenure as defensive coordinator, the defense held opponents to seven points or less.

Before coming to UIndy in 2004, Bartolomeo coached for 11 years at Ball State University, where he helped the Cardinals to two Mid-American Conference titles and two berths in the Las Vegas Bowl, and one year as defensive coordinator and cornerbacks coach at Central Michigan University.

A 1973 graduate of Andrean High School in Merrillville, Bartolomeo began his college football career at Butler University, where he earned bachelor's and master's degrees. In 13 years as a player and coach for the Bulldogs, he helped Butler to 10 conference titles, three Division II playoff berths and a 98-40-4 record.

As Butler's head coach from 1990 to 1992, he posted a 14-7-1 record. His 1991 team went 9-2 and was ranked fifth in NCAA Division II, earning a playoff berth. The Bulldogs won the Midwest Intercollegiate Football Conference (now GLIAC) title that year, and Bartolomeo was named Coach of the Year for both MIFC and Kodak Region III.

Bartolomeo and his wife, Laura, live in Indianapolis and have two daughters, Anna, 24, and Abby, 21.