UIndy Athletics

Ex-Ball State and Central Michigan defensive coordinator Bob Bartolomeo is in his fifth season as the Greyhounds' defensive coordinator.

Bartolomeo was defensive coordinator and cornerbacks coach at Central Michigan in 2003. Prior to CMU, Bartolomeo spent 11 seasons on the Ball State coaching staff, serving as defensive coordinator from 1995-2002.

Bartolomeo went to BSU in 1992 as the linebacker coach, and then served as the assistant head coach from 1993-95 before assuming the defensive coordinator job. Bartolomeo helped the Cardinals to two Mid-American Conference titles (1993 and 1996) and two berths in the Las Vegas Bowl in his tenure at BSU.

In 2000, Bartolomeo's defense ranked 34th nationally in pass defense, allowing 199.6 passing yards per game. From 1992 through 1994, Bartolomeo was Ball State's inside linebackers coach and assistant head coach. In 1995, he was promoted to defensive coordinator and began coaching the secondary. He starting tutoring the team's inside linebackers in 1999.

Prior to going to Ball State, Bart was the head coach at Butler University from 1990-92. His teams were 14-7-1.

His 1991 team went 9-2 and was ranked fifth in NCAA Division II, earning a berth in the NCAA II playoffs. The Bulldogs won the Midwest Intercollegiate Football Conference (now GLIAC) title that year, and Bart was named both MIFC and Kodak Region III "Coach of the Year."

He launched his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Butler from 1977-79, and then was the offensive coordinator at Indianapolis Roncalli H.S. in 1979-80. He returned to Butler where he was the secondary coach (1980-84), defensive coordinator (1984-90), and the head coach.

A 1977 Butler grad, he spent four years as a player for the Bulldogs before becoming a grad assistant. During his 13-year tenure as player and coach, he helped Butler to 10 conference titles, three NCAA II playoff berths and a 98-40-4 record.

Bart graduated from Andrean High School in Merrillville, Indiana, in 1973 before going to Butler. He earned a bachelor of science degree (education) in 1977 and a master's of science degree in 1979.

Bart and his wife, Laura, have two daughters--Anna (23) and Abby (20).