UT names Kowalczyk men's basketball coach
3/30/2010The University of Toledo on Tuesday named Tod Kowalczyk its men's basketball coach.
Kowalczyk, 43, has been the head coach for the last eight seasons at Wisconsin-Green Bay and has put together a 136-112 record at the school. Under Kowalczyk, the Phoenix have placed in the top four of the Horizon League for seven consecutive seasons.
Kowalczyk, the 18th UT men's basketball coach, will be paid $280,000 per year over a five-year contract.
"I'm very excited about the opportunity to coach at the University of Toledo and become a part of the greater Toledo community," said Kowalczyk, a native of De Pere, Wis. "I'm looking forward to the challenge of building a championship-caliber program and making Rocket fans proud of our team. We will do it with hard work and integrity. Our student-athletes will represent our institution in a first-class and positive manner."
The Phoenix have posted back-to-back 20-win seasons the last two years, including second and third-place finishes in their league and two appearances in the College Basketball Invitational. They were 22-13 this season.
"We are very pleased that Tod Kowalczyk has agreed to become the head men's basketball coach at the University of Toledo," UT athletic director Mike O'Brien. "Tod is a proven builder of basketball programs, both as the head coach at Wisconsin-Green Bay, and as an assistant coach at some very fine schools. Tod has all the qualities we are looking for in a basketball coach. He is a proven winner in an excellent basketball conference. He has a superb academic record, graduating every single player who completed his eligibility during his eight years at Green Bay. Above all, Tod is a terrific teacher and a leader of young men. I think Tod is the perfect fit to lead our men's basketball program."
The UT coaching job has been vacant since Gene Cross resigned March 11 after posting an 11-53 record in two seasons.