TOLEDO, Ohio— The Toledo football program has officially announced the hiring of three assistant coaches to fill out its football coaching staff for the 2020 season.

Former Rocket offensive lineman and longtime assistant coach Craig Kuligowski is returning to Toledo to serve as assistant head coach, co-defensive coordinator and outside linebackers coach. Two-time Division III National Championship-winning head coach Vince Kehres has been named defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. Robert Weiner, a four-time state championship-winning high school head coach from Florida, has been named Toledo's co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

"We are very excited about what these three men bring to our program," said head coach Jason Candle. "They are all accustomed to winning and know what it takes to be a champion. Most importantly, they are all tremendous teachers and great leaders of young men. I'm very excited to watch the growth of our team going forward."

In addition to the hiring of three new assistant coaches, Candle also announced new coaching titles for two returning assistants. Offensive line coach Mike Hallett will now also serve as co-offensive coordinator. Safeties coach Ross Watson will now also assume the position of co-defensive coordinator.

All three new coaches bring a winning pedigree to the Glass City. Kuligowski was a member of Toledo's 1990 and 1995 MAC Championship teams as a player and coach, respectively. He also helped coach the Rockets to MAC West titles in 1997 and 1998 and a share of the MAC West crown in 2000. While at Missouri, he helped coach the Tigers to five division titles and six bowl victories, and in 2018 he helped Alabama to a berth in the College Football Playoff Championship Game.  Kehres spent 21 seasons at Mount Union, serving as the program's head coach since 2013. As both a coach and player, Kehres was a part of 12 national titles with the Purple Raiders, twice earning national coach of the year honors. Weiner won four state titles at Plant High School in Tampa, Fla. and won 14 consecutive district championships from 2006-18.

Bios for Toledo's three new coaches are below:

Craig Kuligowski
Assistant Head Coach/Co-Defensive Coordinator/Outside Linebackers

A former offensive lineman, Craig Kuligowski was a two-time First Team All-MAC selection during his playing career as a Rocket (1987-90). From 1992-2000, he served as an assistant coach under former head coach Gary Pinkel. Kuligowski was Toledo's tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator from 1992-93, served as tight ends and offensive line coach from 1994-95, and was the Rockets' defensive line coach from 1996-2000. The Rockets won a MAC title in 1995 and MAC West Division crowns in 1997 and 1998.

"I'm happy to be reunited with my Rocket family," Kuligowski said. "I'm excited about the future and direction of Rocket football and eager to make a positive impact on these young men's lives."

Kuligowski's most recent coaching stop was in Tuscaloosa, Ala. as the associate head coach and defensive line coach under Nick Saban at Alabama in 2018. Under Kuligowski's tutelage, the Crimson Tide ranked in the Top 20 nationally in sacks (3.00/game), scoring defense (18.1 points/game) and total defense (319.5 yards/game). He helped Alabama to a 14-1 record and a berth in the College Football Playoff Championship Game. Two of his defensive linemen were named Second Team All-SEC.

Prior to that he had spent two seasons at Miami (Fla.). While serving as assistant head coach and defensive line coach at Miami (2016-17), Kuligowski helped the Hurricanes to a banner year in 2017. Miami ranked among the nation's leaders in several defensive categories including top in the nation in team sacks (3.38), third nationally in tackles for loss (8.5) and turnovers gained (31), eighth nationally in fumbles recovered (14) and ninth in the nation in opponent yards per play (4.77). The Hurricanes were 19-7 in his two season there, winning the ACC Coastal Division in 2017.

Kuligowski followed former Toledo head coach Gary Pinkel to Missouri, serving as the defensive line coach with the Tigers from 2001-15. He coached nine first-team all-conference defensive linemen during his tenure with the Tigers and produced one of the best defensive lines in the country in 2013. That season, Missouri led the SEC with a school-record 44 sacks and allowed a conference-low 300.8 yards per game in conference matchups. Missouri won three Big 12 North Division crowns and two SEC East titles during his tenure.

Kuligowski earned a bachelor's degree in business administration from Toledo in 1991. He and his wife Mary have two daughters, Peyton and Madeline, and a son, Max.
 

Vince Kehres
Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers

Vince Kehres comes to Toledo after a 21 years at Mount Union, the last eight of which he served as head coach. His career record as a head coach is 95-6 (.941) and he led his team to national championships in 2015 and 2017. Kehres has also helped the Purple Raiders to six Ohio Athletic Conference titles and seven NCAA playoff appearances.

"My family and I are very excited for the opportunity to join Coach Candle's coaching staff at Toledo," Kehres said. "We believe in Coach Candle's vision for the program and are confident we are coming to a great place where we can experience much success."

A winner in every sense, Kehres has been a part of 12 of Mount Union's 13 national championships in some capacity. His 95 wins as a head coach over the last seven seasons are the most among any NCAA football head coach.

Prior to his time as head coach, Kehres served 13 seasons as an assistant under his father and then-head coach Larry Kehres. During his time as defensive coordinator from 2005-12, the Purple Raiders' defense was ranked in the Top 10 nationally in all but one season. Kehres coached the top-ranked defense in all of Division III in 2007, 2008, and 2012.

Kehres also served as Mount Union's strength and conditioning coordinator from 2005-13 as well as the recruiting coordinator from 2009-13. He earned his bachelor's degree in political science from Mount Union and was a four-year letterwinner on the football team, winning two national championships as a player in 1996 and 1997.

Kehres graduated from Mount Union in 1998 with a bachelor's degree in political science. He earned his master's degree in sport science from Ashland in 2000.

He and his wife, Lindsay, have three sons, Evan, Bo and Jackson.

Robert Weiner
Co-Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks

Robert Weiner comes to Toledo after 16 seasons at Plant High School in Tampa, Fla. where he won four state championships, had two runner-up finishes, and earned 14 consecutive district titles (2006-2018). Weiner and former Rocket quarterback Phillip Ely teamed up to win two of those state titles in 2008 and 2009. Plant also won state championships in 2006 and 2011.

"I am extremely excited and honored to be a part of the amazing tradition of the Toledo Rockets," Weiner said. "Toledo is such a prestigious university and I am eager to represent the values of this school through our work on and off the football field. I have known Coach Candle for many years, and he is not just a great football coach, but also a great person leading student-athletes to be their very best. To be a part of his staff is a true privilege."

Other notable quarterbacks Weiner coached during his tenure include Aaron Murray (Georgia, 2010-13), Robert Marve (Miami (Fla.) 2008, Purdue 2010-12), and Tucker Gleason (member of Georgia Tech's 2020 recruiting class).

Plant's record during Weiner's tenure was 172-37-1 with a 42-10 record in playoff games. He was twice named the Florida Dairy Farmer's All-Classifications High School Football Coach of the Year, winning the award in 2006 and 2008. Weiner is one of only two high school coaches ever in the state of Florida to win that award twice.

Weiner graduated from Boston College in 1987 with a bachelor's degree in English and secondary education.