“I am honored to be selected to lead the football program at Central State University,” Rome said in a statement from the school. “CSU has tremendous history and provides a great opportunity for student-athletes to develop and achieve their aspirations.”
>>RELATED: 7 things to know about Central State football
Rome is a Norfolk, Va., native who played fullback at North Carolina from 2006-09 for John Bunting and Butch Davis.
He spent time with three NFL teams before playing in Russia. He also coached in Russia but most recently spent the past two seasons as the head coach at Virginia Lynchburg, where he was also director of athletics.
In a statement, CSU AD Tara A. Owens said the school “received an influx of interest from qualified candidates” and Rome was chosen for his “intense passion for the sport and an unmatched drive to succeed.
“Under his guidance, we believe our student-athletes will flourish on the field and in the classroom,” she added.
>>RELATED: Owens named CSU director of athletics
Rome replaces Cedric Pearl, whose contract was not renewed after he posted a 19-41 record in six seasons with the Marauders.
“Our staff is going to do everything we can to prepare our students to become successful individuals on and off the field,” Rome said. “Our goal is to produce young men that the CSU community can be proud of.”
CSU was 3-7 last season and lost four of its last five games.
That followed a 5-5 campaign in 2018 that concluded with wins over Tuskegee and Lane College.
Central State was a national powerhouse that won three NAIA national championships in the early ‘90s, but the program was shut down in 1997 as the school faced severe financial problems and has had a hard time getting re-established at a higher level of competition.
“I tell people we’re in the teenage years of our return,” Pearl told the Dayton Daily News in the spring of 2018. “Yes, the program flourished in the 90s, but they were the beneficiaries of possibly more scholarships and more coaches as well. I can’t say that for sure, but from what I hear from the older players and older coaches, they had the full allotment of everything they needed to be successful.”
Rome’s Marauders will open the 2020 season against Howard University at the Black College Football Hall of Fame Classic in Canton on Sept. 6.
“Fans and opponents can expect a team that is well-disciplined, mentally prepared and physically conditioned each and every week,” Rome said in the release. “Our players will demonstrate a level of work ethic that is unquestionable as we establish a culture of healthy competition and high standards.”
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