Central Michigan University Athletics
CMU Announces Football Coaching Changes
4/24/2003 12:00:00 AM | Football
April 24, 2003
MOUNT PLEASANT -- Central Michigan University head football coach Mike DeBord announced a number of coaching changes for the 2003 season.
Robert "Bart" Bartolomeo will be the new defensive coordinator and cornerbacks coach.
Bartolomeo, who joined the staff in February after spending 11 years as an assistant coach at Ball State University, replaces John Milligan as the defensive coordinator, a position he'd held for the past three seasons.
"John decided to get out of coaching for personal reasons," said DeBord. "We appreciate all of his efforts and for what he did for this program, and wish him the best in the future."
The Chippewas didn't have to look far for his replacement as Bartolomeo had been a member of the CMU staff since in February after replacing Tor Dixon as the secondary coach. "We're excited to have a guy like Bart join our staff," DeBord said. "He's been a coordinator in our league, and is greatly respected by the other coaches in the league.
"He'll do a great job with the defense and continuing to improve our secondary."
The newest member of the CMU staff is Jeff Beckles who will handle the wide receivers. Former wide receiver mentor Joe Danna has moved to coaching the safeties.
"We're excited about the addition of Jeff to our staff," DeBord said. "He got great experience working with the wide receivers at the University of Georgia."
Beckles is a 1993 graduate of Florida State University where he earned two letters playing for the legendary Bobby Bowden.
Prior to coming to CMU, Beckles coached at Nicholls State and South Florida as well as Georgia where he was a graduate assistant.
One more new coach will be joining the Chippewa staff in May with the departure of Jim Schulte who has become the new head coach at Grand Rapids Community College.
Schulte, the assistant head coach and defensive line coach, has been a member of the Chippewa staff for 28 seasons.
"Whenever you think of Jim, you think of a great person you want to be associated with," said DeBord. "As a football coach, he has a great base of knowledge, expertise, and experience.
"He leaves a huge void for us to fill but I'm not surprised that he took the GRCC job. when the position opened, Jim had a great interest in it. He has family in Grand Rapids, and I don't think he'd leave CMU for just anything."
DeBord likes the makeup of the new staff.
"After going through spring drills with the coaching changes, I feel good about the new additions to our program and am excited about the direction we're heading," he said.
CMU launches the 2003 season at Michigan on August 30.
