While directing the department at Montana State Agricultural College (now Montana State University- Bozeman) he served as head coach in football, track and basketball from 1922 to 1927 and at Brigham Young University (BYU) from 1928 to 1936, compiling a career college football record of 72–51–8.

The program built teams that were honored by the Helms Foundation as some of the best of the early 20th Century, pioneering the Fast Break’ offense, successfully coupled with high pressure defense.

The ‘Golden Bobcats’ under his successor, Schubert Dyche, won national recognition and two players, John ‘Cat’ Thompson and Frank Ward, were named as ‘All Americans’.

In addition, Romney coached football and track at BYU and served as the school's athletic director.

Although later replaced as the main sports facility by a large multipurpose field house named for his player John "Brick" Breeden, the Romney Gymnasium, now Romney Hall, still stands on the main quad of the Bozeman campus.