Offensive Coordinator Rob Spence To Assume Same Position at Clemson
1/14/2005 12:00:00 PM | Football
Jan. 14, 2005
Toledo, OH - Clemson University made it official yesterday when it announced that Toledo offensive coordinator Rob Spence will join Head Coach Tommy Bowden as the offensive coordinator for the Tigers. Spence was the offensive coordinator for four seasons with Toledo, during which time the Rockets went 35-15 and finished in the top 13 in the nation in total offense every year.
UT head coach Tom Amstutz praised Spence for his efforts with the Rockets for the past four seasons.
"Rob Spence did a great job in his four years at Toledo," Amstutz said. "Coaches moving on is a normal part of a successful football program, and we wish him the very best at Clemson."
Spence earned a reputation for developing quarterbacks at UT. He trained three different QBs his version of the "spread" offense. All three broke the Mid-American Conference record for completion percentage.
"What he taught me will help me next year and, hopefully, afterward, " said Bruce Gradkowski, UT's current QB who led the Rockets to their second MAC title in four years this past season. "I've learned a lot from him. Next year will be a new challenge and a chance for me to show what he taught me, but also show I can learn and grow under a new coach."
Spence guided a Toledo offense that averaged 459.2 yards per game (11th in the nation) and 33.2 points per game during the 2004 season that included a 9-4 overall record and the MAC Championship. It was the third time in four years that Toledo played in the MAC Championship Game.
The Rockets gained 2,013 yards rushing and 3,676 yards passing this past regular season, joining Louisville (11-1), Southern Cal (12-0) and Oklahoma (12-0) as the only offenses in the nation to record at least 2,000 yards rushing 3,000 yards passing in 2004. Toledo's 3,676 yards passing were the most in the nation among schools who rushed for at least 2,000 yards during the regular season.
In each of Spence's four years as coordinator, Toledo's starting quarterback ranked in the top 16 in the nation in passing efficiency. Gradkowski ranked in the top six in the nation in passing efficiency each of the last two years and was second in completion percentage each of the last two seasons. Tavares Bolden was 16th in the nation in efficiency in 2001 and Brian Jones ranked third in that category in 2002.
Amstutz said the search for Spence's replacement is already underway. Amstutz is also looking to fill the defensive coordinator spot vacated by Lou West when he took the head coaching position at Indiana State last month.
