TOLEDO OH – University of Toledo head football coach Jason Candle officially announced the addition of former Heidelberg head coach Mike Hallett to the Rockets' staff today. Hallet will serve as the Rockets' offensive line coach.
 
"Mike Hallett is a great addition to our staff," said Candle. "He's a winner. He took a team that was at the bottom of the OAC (Ohio Athletic Conference) for a long, long time and turned them into perennial national playoff contenders. He brings experience and energy to our program, and he is a great teacher, which is probably the most important characteristic of a successful coach. His connections in Ohio will make him a huge asset in our recruiting efforts, as well."
 
Hallett served as head coach at Heidelberg from 2007-15. His career record in nine years as head coach was 55-36, 46-35 in the OAC. The school's all-time leader in career victories, Hallett turned a program that had lost 36 consecutive games prior to his arrival into a contender in a very competitive Division III conference. After winning four games in Hallett's first season, the Student Princes gradually improved, winning at least eight games in every season from 2011 through 2014. In 2012, Heidelberg went 9-2 record (8-1 OAC) and earned its first-ever berth into the NCAA Playoffs.
 
Hallett was named the OAC Coach of the Year and D3Football.com North Region Coach of the Year in both 2007 and 2011. During his tenure, 10 of his players earned All-America honors a total of 12 times, and 60 of his players received All-OAC accolades 96 times.
 
A 1994 graduate of Mount Union, Hallett was a two-time All-American for the Purple Raiders in 1992 and 1993, and was named the Division III Lineman of the Year in 1993. He was part of Coach Larry Kehres' first national championship team in 1993 when he racked up 111 tackles and 8.5 sacks. A two-time All-OAC first-team selection as well as a three-time Academic All-OAC pick, Hallett was enshrined in the Mount Union Athletic Hall of Fame in 1994.
 
After graduation, Hallett coached high school football in Ohio at Orrville (assistant coach, 1988-89), Akron Coventry (defensive coordinator, 1994-96) and Wooster (Head Coach, 1997-98). He moved to the college ranks, working at Thomas Moore as the offensive coordinator (1999-2003) and head coach (2004-06), before accepting the head coaching position at Heidelberg in 2007.
 
Hallett, 47, grew up in Orrville, OH and graduated from Orrville High School, where he played football and ran track. He originally enrolled at Kent State in 1987 to play football for the Golden Flashes before transferring to Mount Union. He has two sons, T.C. and Ryan.
 
Mike Hallett's Collegiate Coaching Experience
2015                Toledo – Offensive Line
2007-15           Heidelberg - Head Coach/Associate Athletic Director
2004-06           Thomas More College – Head Coach
1999-2003       Thomas More College – Offensive Coordinator