JOLIET, Ill. --- Mike Uremovich is climbing the ladder.

The seven-year head coach of the University of St. Francis met with school officials Friday afternoon to inform them that he has accepted a position as the special teams coordinator at NCAA I Northern Illinois University.  He made the announcement to his team a few hours later. 

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Saint Xavier (Ill.) took home its first-ever national championship and was rewarded with the No. 1 ranking in the NAIA Football Coaches' Postseason Top 25 Poll, the national office announced Monday.  The Cougars defeated Carroll (Mont.), 24-20, on Dec. 17 in the 56th Annual Russell Athletic-NAIA Football National Championship game held in Rome, Ga.  SXU had held the No. 1 position for eight consecutive weeks earlier this season from Sept. 12 - Oct. 31.

Rome, Ga. - Behind a huge offensive performance by junior quarterback Jimmy Coy (Park Ridge, Ill./Valdosta State University/El Camino College/Maine South), the No. 5 ranked Saint Xavier University football team defeated No. 2 Carroll College (Mont.), 24-20, to win the 56th Annual Russell Athletic -NAIA Football National Championship Saturday evening at Barron Stadium in Rome, Ga.  It is the first national title for SXU in any sport in its 41 years of athletics.  Coy finished with 216 passing yards and one passing touchdown as well as 78 yards rushing and a score on the ground.