Former Philadelphia Eagles player Mike Bartrum has been appointed head coach at the University of Rio Grande in Ohio. Bartrum, who was a Pro Bowl long snapper and reserve tight end with the Eagles for seven seasons, joins other former Eagles DeSean Jackson and Michael Vick in moving into college coaching roles.
Bartrum brings prior coaching experience to his new position. He previously served as head coach at Meigs High School in Pomeroy, Ohio, worked as an assistant tight ends coach with the Eagles for two seasons, and held a senior analyst role at Marshall University for four years.
“Really, overall, this is just God’s blessing. You pray for you to be where you’re supposed to be, be where your feet are. That’s something that I learned from coaches way back in the day,” Bartrum said. “The last seven months, I’d been working for the Federal Bureau of Prisons. And when I was in those prisons, I was thinking about coaching football sometimes.
“And then this opportunity came available through (the President of the University) Mr. (Ryan) Smith. He was a (member of the House of Representatives) for Ohio when I was fortunate enough to be a county commissioner. I was in a lot of meetings with him, and he was always so locked in and just so professional.
“And when a guy like that gives you a call and they’re interested, how could you turn down an interview for the job? So what a blessing it was to have an opportunity to interview and be able to be back kind of home, too. And actually, our daughter, Taylor, plays volleyball here.”
Bartrum takes over after Rio Grande’s football team finished last season without any wins and is preparing for only its second season since reinstating its program after 75 years.
“At the end of the day, we feel that, we taste that, we use that as motivation,” Bartrum said. “What’s the challenge? The challenge is we weren’t very good last year, and we’re here now. So we adopted that team. We’re all part of the brotherhood. Whether you were here last year or not, you’re part of Rio Grande football.”
“I believe it’s just a challenge in life,” Bartrum said. “And it’s not because I know by God’s grace and mercy, He allowed me to have this opportunity, and He allowed me to have the opportunity to play in the NFL. I looked at that as a challenge, and I blew my knee out in college. But people go through these things, deaths in the family, things that happen. That’s a challenge man. Just embrace that challenge and let’s go.
“There’s nothing about last year’s team – whether they won the National Championship or they didn’t win a game – it doesn’t matter. It’s like ‘OK we’re going to use that for the rest of our lives as a challenge.'”
Bartrum emphasizes teamwork among his players both on and off the field.
“They’re checking each other. And when you see these players start holding each other responsible,and they respect each other then that’s pretty cool,” Bartrum said.”I feel like when they’re doing that when they’re checking each other it’s like Proverbs 27:17 says,’As iron sharpens iron so one person sharpens another.’So if we’re not sharpening each other what are we doing? We’re getting dull,and I don’t like dull.We’re trying to strive for perfection.”
He also introduced F.A.M.I.L.Y.—Forget About Me,I Love You—as his team’s motto.”We have F.A.M.I.L.Y.–Forget About Me,I Love You.And I think that’s exactly what you’re saying when you say if you’re living for breathing for playing for something bigger than yourself.So it’s not about you.It can’t be about you.It’s about us.It’s about the team.It’s about working together for a common goal.And if we win football games,great.If we lose hopefully we’ll learn something from it,and we’ll move on to next one,and be better next time.”
Reflecting on his career with Philadelphia—which included four straight NFC Championship Games appearances—Bartrum credited strong relationships within teams.”The whole seven years I was there,it was about family.Once you build that bond with each other,you trust each other,and you know you’ve got each other’s back,”he said.”(Andy Reid)brought in some guys from T.O.(Terrell Owens)to Jevon Kearse.Donovan(McNabb)was already there.I was very minuscule in that part,but those guys,the high-profile guys were really,really good football players.I wish we could have made it to Super Bowl those other years,but it’s all God’s time,and I feel he put us there for reason.It was really,really cool we were all able stay together that long…”
Bartrum cited Andy Reid—his former coach—and Doug Pederson as key influences on his approach.”Coach Reid is like dad to me.I mean,I love him just like my own father.My father passed away so he’s kind of like I’m adopting him.I don’t know if he’ll adopt me but I’ll adopt him,”Bartrum laughed.
“Just be consistent.If you listen Coach Reid or Doug Pederson at any press conference they’re going take(accountability).They’re not going blame anybody.They didn’t have tell me;they told me by their actions…Serve people.Be good people.Hold people accountable…Always ask why let people ask why.Try explain your why teaching mode.Because that’s what are—we’re all teachers…
“I had Coach Reid as our tight ends coach(while Packers)and our head coach.And Coach Pederson he was coaching me up when actually coaching.I’d listen him how coaches teaches.Just so instrumental.And that’s reason they both very successful.”
Looking ahead.Bartrum believes attitude effort will drive improvement.”We have thing talk about all time attitude effort,”he said.”Ten percent is what happens your life,ninety percent how deal with.Ten percent—that’s your attitude effort.Not always going happen but eventually keep great attitude effort it’s going happen.We’re always work hard.We’re say,’We’re hardest working football program.’Well probably not but that’s OK.We’re say it.Work our butts off try best version ourselves can be.”
