Toledo Tom gets the Boot

Four years into a five-year contract, Tom Amstutz, better known to everyone at Toledo as “Toledo Tom” is stepping down as the Rockets head coach. The 53-year-old former football player has led the team to four bowl games in the past eight seasons, which sounds great.

Until you remember that there are like…a thousand bowl games.

Despite wins against Eastern Michigan and Michigan this season, as well as a hard-fought double overtime loss to Fresno State, Toledo ranks at the bottom of the barrel in almost every major NCAA team state. Having the 99th best defense in the nation, for example, isn’t exactly something you like to tell people.

But this isn’t the end for Toledo Tom. According to athletic director Mike O’Brien, Amstutz is staying with the school and will be given a different job in the athletic department. In other words, they know he’s good for this program, even if he’s not the best college football coach out there. Maybe he’ll head up recruiting? (And yes, that is pure speculation on my part.)

In any case, his replacement has yet to be named. He’ll be officially stepping down tomorrow morning during a press conference, sources say, so the school must have someone in mind to take over for the rest of the season. After that, will the position open up? Or, a better question – will anyone want it?

Picture via Newscom.