Rocket Report with Bryan B. Blair - October 2025
10/10/2025 11:35:00 AM | Athletics
October 10, 2025
Team Toledo,Â
The past few months have been nothing short of transformational for our department. From launching groundbreaking initiatives, to welcoming new corporate partners, to engaging our community in new and exciting ways, we're embracing innovation and collaboration at every level. These milestones reflect the incredible momentum we're building and our unwavering commitment to create the best possible environment for the success of our student-athletes!
On the competition front, we have also celebrated historic firsts and record-setting performances. Our fall sports are competing at a high level, and our winter and spring sports are gearing up for what promises to be a thrilling 2025-26 campaign. I'm incredibly proud of what we've accomplished so far, and even more excited about what lies ahead!
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We recently announced a partnership with Venture Visionary Partners to create the Venture Courtside Club -- a bold new premium experience in Savage Arena that redefines what it means to be courtside at a college basketball game! Located adjacent to the brand-new team tunnel entrance, this exclusive space allows members to witness the team's pregame energy up close — including direct interaction with players and coaches as they take the court! Find out more about how you can be a part of this unique hoops experience: UTRockets.com/SavagePremiumSeating.Â
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TOLEDO ATHLETICS EMBRACES INNOVATION IN DATA SCIENCE
Toledo Athletics continues to lead the way in innovation and campus collaboration with several exciting new initiatives that will positively impact our program. In partnership with WMT Digital, we are enhancing our digital infrastructure to better serve fans, student-athletes, and staff. A newly created role—Assistant Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Benefits & Data Analytics—will focus on maximizing student-athlete support through data-driven insights.
We are excited to welcome Henry Davidson in that new role. Henry will oversee initiatives that drive performance optimization, revenue generation, and strategic decision-making across our athletic department through advanced data analytics.
Additionally, the launch of the Data Science Internship Program, in collaboration with UToledo's new School of Interdisciplinary Data Science, offers UToledo students hands-on experience in sports analytics and operations (these efforts build on a foundation that already includes more than 160 graduate assistants, interns, and student workers working in our athletics department). Embracing these new initiatives is a major step forward in how we use data to help drive the success of our student-athletes and sports programs!
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THE 2025-26 HOOPS SEASON IS ALMOST HERE!   The 2025-26 season promises to be an exciting one for Toledo Basketball! On the men's side, Head Coach Tod Kowalczyk leads an exciting new squad that features an intriguing mix of returning veterans and promising newcomers. Second-year Head Coach Ginny Boggess' women's team is reloaded and ready to roll following a 24-win campaign and a run to the MAC Championship game last season. Don't miss a moment of the action—secure your season tickets today. Let's pack Savage Arena and support our Rockets all season long! |
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FOOTBALL: A HOMECOMING TO REMEMBERÂ Toledo's 2025 Homecoming was a true celebration of Rocket pride and campus spirit, highlighted by a dominant 45-3 victory over Akron at the Glass Bowl. The day kicked off with the vibrant UToledo Homecoming Parade, showcasing student organizations, alumni groups, and community partners. Across campus, tailgate parties and reunions brought together generations of Rockets, the return to our campus of accomplished alumni like ESPN analyst and former Rocket great Andrew Hawkins, and numerous unforgettable moments that strengthen the bonds of #TeamToledo. From the energy in the stands to the joy on campus, Homecoming 2025 was a powerful reminder of what makes the University of Toledo special! |
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LIGHTS, CAMERA, MACTION! LET'S PACK THE GLASS BOWL ON NOV. 5!
I couldn't be more excited about our bold goal to pack the Glass Bowl on Wednesday, Nov. 5 for our nationally televised MACtion matchup against Northern Illinois. This is more than a football game—it's a chance to showcase the energy, pride, and unity of #TeamToledo to a national audience. We're calling it "Mission: Midweek," and rallying our students, alumni, campus partners, and the entire northwest Ohio community to make this a night to remember.
With our Rockets chasing another MAC title, we have a special opportunity to turn this broadcast into a celebration of the excitement and support that comes from being part of #TeamToledo! This game will be a 3 ½-hour advertisement for our University and our city, so let's fill every seat and make Toledo the talk of the sports world!
ORDER NIU TICKETS
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WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL OFF TOÂ A HISTORIC START Our Volleyball team is off to a historic start, matching the best opening record in program history with an impressive 14-3 mark. First-year Head Coach Brian Wright has quickly instilled a winning culture, and the atmosphere at Savage Arena has been electric, including a record crowd of 2,251 in our 3-1 victory vs. That Team Down South on Oct. 7.There is a reason why volleyball is one of the fastest growing sports in America, so if youhaven't seen our Rockets play yet, you owe it to yourself to come out to Savage Arena and cheer on these incredible student-athletes! 2025 WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL SCHEDULE |
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WOMEN'S ROWING LAUNCHES AT GLASS CITY REGATTA
Our Women's Rowing program made its official debut at the Glass City Regatta on Sept. 20, marking a historic moment for Toledo Athletics. Watching our student-athletes compete on the Maumee River in Downtown Toledo for the first time in program history was inspiring, and it was a powerful reminder of the growth and momentum we're building across all sports. The addition of Women's Rowing as a varsity sport reflects our commitment to expanding opportunities for student-athletes, positively impacting enrollment at our University, and connecting with our community. The energy and support from the Toledo Rowing Foundation, Metroparks Toledo and the entire Toledo rowing community has been phenomenal. I can't wait to see how this program continues to develop and thrive!
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BCSN: Rocket Roundup takes a look at what a typical morning looks like for Toledo rowing
MANUFACTURED IN THE GLASS CITY: EXCELLENCE FORGED HERE
Our Manufactured in the Glass City series continues to spotlight the incredible talent developed at the University of Toledo. In August, we featured Jane Roman, a former Rocket women's basketball player and Hall of Famer who is a highly respected criminal defense attorney in Toledo. In September, we heard from Jean Ann Williamson, a women's volleyball alumnus who has been an executive with fascinating and diverse organizations like the Daytona International Speedway and the Kennedy Space Center. These distinguished alumni are perfect examples of the kind of Rocket student-athletes who go on to do great things after they leave our University!
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MARCO'S PIZZA: TWO TOLEDO ICONS COME TOGETHER
In September, we announced Marco's Pizza as the "Official Pizza of Toledo Athletics," a collaboration that brings together two iconic Toledo institutions united by a shared commitment to excellence, community and #TeamToledo pride. Marco's has deep roots in our city, and their support of our student-athletes and fans reflects the kind of hometown spirit that makes Rocket Nation so special. Whether you're grabbing a slice at the Glass Bowl or celebrating a win at home, Marco's is now part of the Rocket experience—and we couldn't be more excited to have them on board!
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Read more about the exciting collaboration that brings together two iconic Toledo institutions.
BRAGGING RIGHTS
I'd like to recognize these fantastic accomplishments from our department during the past two months:Â Â Â Â Â
| Congratulations to Head Coach Jason Candle on becoming the all-time victory leader at Toledo! The Rockets' win over Western Kentucky on Sept. 6 was the 74th of Coach Candle's career, moving him past College Football Hall of Famer Gary Pinkel on Toledo's career victory list. |  |
| Hats off to sophomore JJ Scholten won the Mid-American Conference Individual Women's Tennis Singles Championship in Kalamazoo on Oct. 5! JJ won the title by defeating freshman teammate Isabella Barretto, giving the Rockets the top two positions at the tournament. She also was named the MAC Female Scholar-Athlete of the Week with her 3.959 GPA in neuroscience! |  |
| Kudos to Matt Hofer, an offensive lineman on our football team, for becoming the first Rocket ever to be selected to the 2025 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team! Matt, who was one of just 11 players from the FBS chosen to the team, has made two recent international mission trips to Kenya and the Philippines. He has also shown true #TeamToledo spirit, volunteering to help numerous charitable organizations in our community! |  |
| Congrats to women's golfer Brooklyn Millard, who captured first place at the Rocket Classic on Oct. 6! Brooklyn shot a one-over-par 145 to capture medalist honors at the annual event played at Catawba Island Club in Port Clinton. |  |
I'm incredibly energized by the unprecedented momentum we are experiencing in Toledo Athletics. From bold new partnerships and cutting-edge data initiatives to historic debuts and record-setting performances, we're embracing change and innovation at every turn. These efforts aren't just about enhancing the fan experience or improving operations—they're about creating meaningful opportunities for our student-athletes and elevating the entire #TeamToledo community. With your continued support, I'm confident we're building something truly special. The future is bright, and together, we're powering Toledo Athletics to even greater heights.
This Community. Â
This University. Â
This Athletics Department.  Â
Together, we will accomplish the "impossible."Â Â Â
Players Mentioned
