University of Toledo athletic director Mike O'Brien said Monday that he and football coach Tom Amstutz came to a ''a mutual agreement' last weekend that Amstutz would step down as coach of the Rockets program.
Amstutz, 53, will move to a position as the director of special projects in the Alumni Relations office beginning in January. Amstutz is 57-38 in eight years as coach. He is 2-6 this season, including an upset win over the University of Michigan.
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''I'm proud of the body of work I've had at the University of Toledo, '' said the man affectionately referred to as Toledo Tom. ''Now is a good time to be passing the torch.''
O'Brien said a national search to replace Amstutz will begin immediately.
Amstutz to resign as Rockets' head coach
From earlier editions of toledoblade.com
University of Toledo football coach Tom Amstutz plans to step down from his position today, The Blade has learned.
Mr. Amstutz and UT Athletic Director Mike O'Brien are scheduled to announce at a news conference this morning that Mr. Amstutz will be reassigned to a job in the university's alumni relations department. The move would take effect at the end of the football season.
Mr. Amstutz, 53, is 57-38 in his eight years as head coach of the Rockets, with two Mid-American Conference championships. But UT is 2-6 this season and is likely to have a losing record for the third straight year. UT is 0-4 at the Glass Bowl this year.
ALSO
COACHING • 2000-08: Head coach, Toledo • 1994-00: Defensive coordinator, Toledo • 1990-93: Outside linebackers coach, Toledo • 1987-89: Outside linebackers coach, Navy • 1977-86: Defensive ends coach, Toledo PLAYER • 1973-76: Two-year starter on offensive line at Toledo EDUCATION • 1994: Masters of education, Toledo • 1977: Bachelors of education, Toledo
A Toledo native, former UT player, and Rockets assistant coach for 21 years, Mr. Amstutz's contract runs through 2009, when he is scheduled to be paid a base salary of $190,000.
Reached last night, Mr. Amstutz said he preferred to wait until today to comment. UT plays at Akron Wednesday night.
After back-to-back 5-7 seasons for the Rockets in 2006 and 2007, Mr. Amstutz said he knew his team had to show improvement this year. A 1977 UT graduate and Whitmer High School alum, he told The Blade before the season started, "I love a challenge. I'm always excited by that. There's no pressure, just excitement. I'm still living the dream. I'm coaching at my school. I'm as calm and confident as in any season I've been here."
UT nearly won two of its first three games but fell in double overtime to Fresno State, 55-54, at home on Sept. 20. At the time the Rockets' high-powered offense looked like it could propel UT into contention for a MAC division title. What followed were two devastating home losses, first to Division I-A bottom-feeder Florida International and then a 31-0 defeat to Ball State, the first time the Rockets were shut out at home in 30 years.
The Rockets responded by delivering one of the biggest wins in school history, a 13-10 victory over Michigan on Oct. 11 in Ann Arbor. It was the first victory by a MAC school over Michigan in 25 tries. The win didn't become a turning point for UT, though, as the Rockets have lost two straight games since then.
When Mr. Amstutz was promoted to head coach from defensive coordinator in 2001, he helped the Rockets maintain their spot in the MAC elite. His first year, UT won the school's first MAC title since 1995 and finished No. 23 in the Associated Press Top 25 poll. He took the Rockets to bowl games in four of his first five years and finished first or second in the MAC West division in his first five years.
UT won the conference championship in 2004 and Mr. Amstutz was named Ohio college coach of the year. In 2005, the Rockets beat University of Texas El Paso to win the GMAC Bowl.
Another measure of success for Mr. Amstutz's first five years as head coach was the Rockets' 26-2 record at the Glass Bowl.
Contact Maureen Fulton at: mfulton@theblade.com or 419-724-6160.
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