AMSTUTZ OUT AS UT HEAD COACH

November 3, 2008 - Tom Amstutz's eight-year reign as Toledo's head football coach is almost over.

As announced in a press conference this morning, Amstutz will resign at the end of the season and accept a position as director of special projects in the alumni relations office.

"After a meeting this weekend, Mike O'Brien and I made a mutual agreement that I will accept a new position with The University of Toledo alumni relations office," Amstutz said. "It's important that you understand that I still have a four-game focus that I'm concentrating on as the football coach."

Amstutz went on to say that the University had treated him fairly, and that he was looking forward to his new position. The format of the press conference did not allow him to take any questions from the media.

He  has compiled a 57-38 record as head coach, winning Mid-American Conference championships in 2001 and 2004, and MAC West Division crowns in 2002 and 2005. He led his team to four bowl appearances, including victories in the 2001 Motor City Bowl and the 2005 GMAC Bowl.

"It's a bittersweet day for all of us," O'Brien said. "Tom will be honored in a number of ways. We will cap it off with the Bowling Green game which will be Tom Amstutz Day."

O'Brien said that the coaching situation was becoming somewhat of a distraction, and that both parties wanted to move forward.

Rocket quarterback Aaron Opelt said that Amstutz told the team after Sunday's practice that he wouldn't be returning. "It was a shock," he said. "No one was expecting it. The team was kind of quiet. I know for me I had a lot of thoughts going through my head.

My role and a lot of the seniors' roles is to talk to the other players, especially the younger ones. If I was in their shoes I would need someone to talk to. We have a very strong senior class, and you can talk to any of them because they care about people here. That's the biggest thing."

O'Brien added that a national search for a new head coach would begin immediately.