The University of Toledo and Head Men’s Basketball Coach Tod Kowalczyk have reached an agreement that extends Kowalczyk’s contract through the 2020-21 season, UT Vice President and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Mike O’Brien announced today.
Kowalczyk
“Tod and his staff have steadily improved our program throughout his tenure culminated by a share of the [Mid-American Conference] regular-season title and a school-record 27 victories in 2013-14. Even more impressive is the team’s performance in the classroom, as displayed by its 3.0 team GPA last fall. We’re pleased to extend Tod’s contract through the 2020-21 season.”
“I’m very appreciative to President Lloyd Jacobs and Mike O’Brien for the tremendous support they have provided to our program as well as the confidence they are displaying in me with this contract extension,” said Kowalczyk, a finalist for the Hugh Durham National Coach of the Year award. “We just experienced one of the greatest seasons in school history, and we’re going to keep working even harder to reach our goals we have yet to reach.”
Kowalczyk, 47, was named the Rockets’ head coach in March 2010, assuming the reins of a program that had endured three straight losing seasons and was coming off a 4-28 win-loss mark. Since his first season at the Rocket helm, Kowalczyk has guided UT to a 61-37 win-loss mark, including a 27-7 ledger in 2013-14 that ranks fourth for most wins ever by a MAC men’s program.
During the 2013-14 campaign, Toledo captured a share of its eighth MAC regular-season title, appeared in its eighth National Invitation Tournament in program history, and posted its first unbeaten home record (fourth in school history) since the 1966-67 season. The Rockets also established school records for most points (2,694), free throws made (643) and free throws attempted (887).
The Rockets have displayed significant academic improvement under Kowalczyk as well. The team’s academic progress rate in 2013-14 is 1,000 with a four-year projected mark of 975. The Rockets also posted a 3.030 team GPA in the 2013 fall semester.
Prior to coming to UT, Kowalczyk posted a 136-112 record in eight years as Wisconsin-Green Bay’s head coach. The Phoenix advanced to post-season play and notched back-to-back 22-win seasons in his last two seasons. In addition, all players who completed their eligibility while Kowalczyk was Green Bay’s head coach received their degree.
Kowalczyk is a native of DePere, Wis. He and his wife, Julie, have two children, Race, 7, and Rose, 5.
