BECKMAN ANNOUNCED AS NEW FOOTBALL COACH

December 4, 2008 - Tim Beckman is off and running as the new head football coach of the Toledo Rockets. Later today he will meet with the team, he plans on contacting UT verbal commitments tomorrow, he wants to have some assistants in place within a few days, he will interview current Toledo assistants by this weekend, he will be on the road recruiting on Monday in Michigan and Ohio high schools, and I'm certain I left at least a few things out. Let's just say that he not taking his time as he begins the work of bringing the Rockets back to football respectability.

Beckman was introduced today by Toledo AD Mike O'Brien, who said that the Rocket momentum continues with the announcement of a new football coach. "You've heard me say when announcing a hire, the word fit. There's not a better example of that fit for the Rockets than Tim Beckman. If you look at his background it's easy to see why we're here today. He surrounds himself with first-class people, he recruits student-athletes that excel in the classroom and on the field and he has been around football his entire life."

Beckman has an impressive resume that includes coaching in the Big Ten, SEC and Big Twelve. Along the way, he's worked for some of the best in the profession including Jim Tressel, Urban Meyer and Mike Gundy.

"It's great to be back in the MAC," Beckman said. "I think you're going to see an exciting brand of football here. There's a lot of excitement in college football today, and we're excited about bringing it here to Toledo. Defense is my background and we're going to be a very physical team with outstanding effort. One thing that I also want to stress is that when the Rockets take the field or walk around town, they're going to exemplify class. We're going to be, as a football team, and as human beings, privileged to be Rockets and privileged to play this great game of football."

Beckman was asked about what it will be like to face one of his football idols next season when UT plays the Buckeyes next season in Cleveland. He responded by saying that it will be a great opportunity to go to Cleveland, to sell the Toledo Rockets and play against coach Tressel.

He was asked about his offensive philosophy, and said that he will use the spread offense. He had to face some powerful offenses in the Big Twelve, and learned a lot about how they operate and how to defend against them. Beckman that UT will be a "multi-tempoed, multi-personnel" offense.

Beckman described the Toledo job as a win-win situation in terms of being able to sell recruits on both the football tradition and academics. He also said that with Tom Amstutz still working at the University, he hoped to talk to him on a regular basis because "he knows Toledo football and he will be a definite asset to me".

"This program will be built on competition and commitment", Beckman said. "All of the players will have something to prove because I don't know any of them. It should be a fun winter for us as a team. The plan that I've been around has worked, so I plan on instilling that plan."

Although UT will continue to recruit Ohio and nearby states, Beckman said that his contacts in Texas, Florida and Georgia could also yield some players.

Tim Beckman is an impressive young coach who has learned from some of the best in the business. You can tell that he will be a successful recruiter with his outgoing and positive personality. He is organized and has a plan. His hiring looks like a big win for the Toledo football program.