Football

Uremovich, who replaced Mike Slovick following the 2004 season, became the first USF coach to not only win his first game with the Saints but to also go 2-0 in his first two starts. Injuries, lack of depth and a rugged MSFA schedule contributed to the Saints losing their last nine games and giving Uremovich a 2-9 mark in his inaugural season.

Uremovich, who  replaced Mike Slovick following the 2004 season, became the first USF coach to not only win his first game with the Saints but to also go 2-0.  Injuries, lack of depth and a rugged MSFA schedule contributed to the Saints losing their last nine games and giving Uremovich a 2-9 mark in his inaugural season.   

His second year was much like the first. The schedule again was among the toughest in the NAIA, with road games at NAIA semi-finalist Saint Xavier, playoff-bound St. Ambrose (IA) and 8-3 NCAA Division II St. Joseph’s (IN). The home slate was not any easier, with visits from NAIA playoff team Walsh (OH) and NAIA powers McKendree and Quincy. The young Saints finished 1-9.       

Despite the unsatisfying records of the past two seasons, the excitement around USF’s hiring of Uremovich remains just as high as it was when it was first announced back in December of 2004.       

“We are truly excited to have Mike Uremovich accept our offer,” said USF director of athletics Dave Laketa at the press conference.  “Mike brings an unbelievable work ethic, a tremendous amount of energy and a powerful, albeit brief, resume to the position.”       

For Uremovich, who served as the offensive coordinator at NCAA III Waynesburg College (PA) each of the previous two years, the move marked a return to the area.       

He grew up in nearby New Lenox and graduated from Providence Catholic High School, where he was a wide receiver for the Celtics’ Class 5A state championship team in 1994.  That year, he caught 18 passes for 220 yards and three touchdowns.       

Uremovich returned to Providence Catholic four years later to serve as a wide receivers coach after breaking into the coaching ranks at McCutcheon High School, just outside of Lafayette, Ind., in 1996.  As the special teams coordinator and defensive backs coach at McCutcheon in 1996 and 1997, Uremovich tutored four all-conference players and helped the Mavericks capture a sectional championship.       

With the Celtics in 1998 and 1999, both teams advanced to the IHSA state playoffs, with the former club advancing to the state title game.       

Uremovich made the jump to the collegiate level one year later in 2000.       

Benedictine University in Lisle registered its best record (7-3) in 23 years with Uremovich as its receivers coach and  special teams mentor.        

Next up came a move to the NCAA I ranks with Northern Illinois, where Uremovich was a two-year graduate assistant offensive line coach.  The hire turned out to be a smart one as the DeKalb-based school produced its best two-year showing in 12 years, going 6-5 in 2001 and 8-4 in 2002.  Included in that time slot were the Huskies’ first two Mid-America Conference - West Division co-championships since 1983.       

Waynesburg College head coach Jeff Hand snatched Uremovich back up when the former Benedictine head coach was in need of an offensive coordinator in 2003, and in each of the next two seasons, the Yellow Jackets and their offense flourished.       

In fact, the 2003 season proved to be one of the most memorable in the 108-year history of the program.  That team not only tied a school record for the most regular-season wins, going 9-2, but also claimed the program’s first-ever Presidents’ Athletic Conference outright title and a bid to the NCAA III playoffs for the initial time.       

That season, Uremovich placed nine offensive players on the all-PAC team, including five on the first squad.  Together, they helped the offense establish school records for both rushing yards (2,315) and total offense (4,412 yards).       

The latter record did not last long, however, being replaced the following year by that team’s 4,579 total yards, 2,592 of which came through the air for another new school mark.        

Combined, Waynesburg went 16-6 during Uremovich’s two-year stint, with all six losses being decided by six points or less.       

Uremovich, who earned a bachelor’s degree in secondary education/U.S. history from Purdue University (IN) and a master’s in continuing adult education from Northern Illinois, resides in Joliet with his wife, Katie,  daughter, Ella (2), and new son, Michael.

muremovich@stfrancis.edu

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Craig Harmon enters his second season as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at University of St. Francis.

Harmon came to USF in January, 2006, after serving the previous two seasons as a graduate assistant coach on head coach Joe Novak’s staff at Northern Illinois University.  Harmon worked specifically with the offensive line and tight ends and ran the defensive and special teams scout units.  The Huskies were Mid-America Conference West champions in 2005 and co-champs of that division in 2004.

Prior to coaching in DeKalb, Harmon worked as a graduate assistant coach for two seasons at Quincy University, tutoring running backs and defensive backs.

Harmon played collegiately as a quarterback at both Northern Illinois (1998-2000) and Quincy (2001-02).  As a freshman in 1998, he was nominated by the Huskies for MAC Player of the Week honors after leading the club to a 26-14 victory over Eastern Michigan.  His name was also put forward for Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges in both the spring and fall of 2002.

Harmon earned a B.S. in physical education  and a master’s in education administration from Quincy. 

During his prep days, Harmon played for legendary head coach Bob Shannon at Alton High School, where he graduated as the all-time leading passer in school history.  He also played baseball for the Redbirds.

Harmon and his wife, Megan, reside in Downers Grove.

charmon@stfrancis.edu

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Former University of St. Francis defensive lineman Joe Curry returned to his alma mater to take over as the program’s defensive coordinator and linebackers coach in the fall of 2005.

Curry played for the Saints from 1998-2000, earning all-Mid-States Football Association second team accolades as a senior after gaining honorable mention all-Midwest Intercollegiate Football Conference status in 1998.

A team captain in 2000, Curry was selected as USF’s best defensive lineman that year as well as in 1998. 

For his career with the Saints, he posted 168 tackles (71 solo, 97 assisted), 15 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks.

Prior to enrolling at St. Francis, Curry attended Indiana State University for two years.  After redshirting in 1996, he played in three games for the Sycamores the following season and made nine tackles.

Upon completing his playing career, Curry entered the coaching ranks, beginning as a defensive line coach for the Saints in 2001.  He then ventured to Ferris State University (MI) for the next three seasons, where he coached the defensive line, recruited and served as the travel coordinator.

An Aurora Central Catholic High School graduate, Curry was a Chicago Sun-Times and Illinois High School Football Coaches Association all-state selection his senior year as well as a member of the all-Private School League team in each of his three varsity seasons with the Chargers.  He also claimed first-team all-area recognition from the Aurora Beacon News twice and established a school record with his 342 career tackles.
Curry earned a bachelor’s degree in education with a concentration in history from USF before gaining a master’s in education administration from Ferris State.
He and his wife, Holly, reside in Joliet.

jcurry@stfrancis.edu

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Jim Kirby joined the USF coaching staff last season and will again tutor the Saints’ running backs.

His assignment with the Saints marks his first as a collegiate coach.  Kirby served as quarterbacks coach and assisted with special teams at Decatur (MI) High School in 2005.

Kirby played college football at both Saint Xavier University (1999-2001) and Western Michigan University (2001-03).  He started at quarterback for two seasons at Saint Xavier and played as a quarterback and on special teams for two seasons at WMU.

Kirby attended high school at nearby Providence Catholic High School in New Lenox.  He earned all-state honors in 1998 for the Celtics and was a member of two state championship teams and one state runner-up. 

Kirby and his bride Erin reside in Plainfield.

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MIKE MALONEY
DEFENSIVE LINE COACH

Mike Maloney enters his first season as a member of the USF coaching staff.

Maloney will work with the Saints’ defensive linemen and will also serve as special teams coordinator.

Maloney comes to USF after spending the past two seasons coaching football and baseball at Joliet Catholic Academy. 

In football, he coordinated all special teams for the Hilltoppers and coached the defensive line. JCA won back-to-back East Suburban Catholic Conference titles in 2005 and 2006 and posted a 17-4 record in those two years.

Maloney served as an assistant varsity coach for the Hillmen baseball squad in 2005 and was the head freshman coach in ‘06.

A 2000 graduate of JCA, Maloney lettered in football, basketball and baseball. On the gridiron, he was a three-year starter and captain of the 1999 state championship team. He earned all-state honors that year and all-area accolades from the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Daily Southtown, Champaign News-Gazette and Joliet Herald News. He was also named a Prepstar All-American.

Maloney moved on to the University of Illinois in the fall of 2000 where he was a member of the 2001 Big Ten champion Fighting Illini football squad. He earned three varsity letters at Illinois and was a two-time George Huff Award recipient for earning a 3.0 or higher grade point average for two consecutive semesters.

Maloney is single and resides in Joliet.

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Matt Mrozek begins his second season on the USF coaching staff and will again coach USF’s defensive backs.

Mrozek, who completed his undergraduate degree in education with a concentration in math at St. Francis this past year, coached the sophomore defensive backs at Lincoln-Way Central High School each of the previous four years.  He also assisted in the Knights’ basketball program.

Mrozek graduated in 2001 from Lincoln-Way Central, where he played football and was a member of two state semi-finalist teams.

He is single and resides in Mokena.

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TOM SALLAY
DEFENSIVE BACKS COACH

Tom Sallay begins his second season of college coaching at USF and will again oversee the defensive backs for head coach Mike Uremovich.

Sallay came to USF after spending the previous four years coaching football and baseball at Bloom Township High School in Chicago Heights, Ill.  Sallay served as head sophomore football coach from 2003-2005 and head sophomore basketball coach from 2002-2006.  Prior to going to Bloom, he spent one year as the head freshman baseball coach at Lincoln-Way Central High School.  Sallay began his coaching career at Highland High School in Ewing, Mo., while he was attending school and playing football at Culver-Stockton College (MO).

A 1997 graduate of Thornton Fractional North High School, Sallay earned his B.A. in education from Culver-Stockton in 2001.  He and his wife, Alex, reside in Joliet.