Ball State has hired Butler head coach Mike Uremovich as the school’s new football coach, the school announced.

The contract is for five years, sources told ESPN.

Uremovich, 48, brings extensive experience from his time at Butler, where he was 23-11 over the past three years. He also spent seven seasons as head coach at the University of St. Francis (Ill.), leading them to a 17-7 record over the final two seasons.

The variety of experiences attracted Ball State to Uremovich, according to sources. Uremovich brings extensive time in the MAC, including three stints with Northern Illinois spanning six different seasons. He was special teams coordinator for the 2012 Orange Bowl team and offensive coordinator for the 2018 MAC Champions.

He has also worked as an offensive coordinator in the AAC at Temple and as an assistant coach in the ACC at North Carolina State. He was part of a coaching staff that appeared in six bowl games, and his experience ranges from high school to the highest levels of college football.

The extent of Uremovich’s success at Butler impressed the Ball State team as Butler appeared in the FCS Coaches’ Poll for the first national ranking in Butler football history. The three straight winning seasons there were Butler’s first since the late 1980s and showcased his ability to achieve big wins in a place where that has previously been difficult to achieve.

The breadth of Uremovich’s experience comes from the Midwest, familiarizing him with the recruiting presence Ball State needs to be successful.

He will replace Mike Neu, who was fired after nine 40-63 seasons. Neu led Ball State to the MAC title in 2020.