Toledo Vice President and Director of Athletics Tom Moreland announced a series of staff updates aimed at modernizing UT Athletics.
A Letter from Tom Moreland
10/16/2026 10:00:00 AM | Athletics
Modernizing the Structure of Toledo Athletics
Dear Rocket Community,
I want to share several leadership updates that will help modernize Toledo Athletics, strengthen collaboration across our department and better position our coaches and student-athletes for long-term success. As college athletics continues to evolve, we must continually evaluate how we operate, align our resources with our priorities and build a structure that supports our competitive ambitions.
Connor Whelan, our Deputy Athletic Director and Chief Revenue Officer, will add oversight of football while continuing to oversee men's basketball. Connor and I will work closely together in supporting both programs, with Connor providing sport oversight while continuing to lead our external operations. Those responsibilities include revenue strategy, development, corporate partnerships, premium seating, marketing, ticket sales, fan engagement, communications, creative and digital services, and multimedia rights.
This structure builds on the strong working relationships Connor has developed with head coaches Mike Jacobs and Tod Kowalczyk. Mike and Connor will work together to build one of the nation's premier Group of 6 programs and position the Rockets to compete for opportunities to reach the College Football Playoff.
Tod has won four of the last six MAC championships, and he and Connor will continue working together to build on that success and keep Toledo men's basketball among the league's best.
I also look forward to strengthening our relationship with the UToledo Foundation and its new CEO, JR Blackburn. Closer collaboration will help align our efforts in support of Rocket Athletics and the university's long-term priorities.
These changes reflect our commitment to building a more connected, accountable and forward-looking athletics department. By clarifying responsibilities and strengthening collaboration across sport oversight, department operations and the student-athlete experience, we can better meet the demands of today's college athletics landscape.
In June, we announced Tanner Ball as our Executive Associate AD for Administration and Strategic Operations. Tanner brings valuable experience from Purdue, where he led NIL administration, revenue-sharing implementation and contract management.
He will oversee NIL and revenue sharing, including strategic decisions regarding student-athlete compensation and roster resources, helping Toledo remain competitive in a rapidly changing landscape. Tanner will also oversee women's volleyball, men's and women's cross country, women's track and field, and rowing.
Melissa DeAngelo, Executive Associate AD for Business Strategy and CFO, will serve as Senior Woman Administrator and add women's basketball to her sport oversight responsibilities. Toledo has one of the nation's most consistent and well-supported women's basketball programs, and Melissa and Ginny will work together to build on that foundation and elevate the program to an even higher level.
Brian Lutz has been elevated to Executive Associate AD for Compliance and Chief Integrity Officer. His more than two decades of compliance leadership will be invaluable in reinforcing integrity, accountability and student-athlete welfare throughout our department.
Brian Jones, UT's Senior Associate AD for Health and Wellness, has three decades of experience overseeing student-athlete health and wellness. He will add strength and conditioning to his responsibilities, helping align performance training with the broader health and well-being of our student-athletes.
Jillian Lehman, Associate AD for Student-Athlete Experience, will oversee men's and women's tennis and women's soccer.
Each of these leaders brings valuable experience, institutional knowledge and a deep commitment to Toledo. Their expanded roles will help us work more effectively across the department and strengthen our support for the coaches and student-athletes who represent the Rockets.
Modernizing our department is about more than changing organizational responsibilities. It is about ensuring we have the leadership, alignment and resources necessary to compete at the highest level while providing an outstanding experience for our student-athletes. I am grateful for the continued commitment of our leadership team and the support of the Rocket community as we build for the future.
My deepest thanks and respect,
Tom Moreland
Vice President and Director of Athletics
I want to share several leadership updates that will help modernize Toledo Athletics, strengthen collaboration across our department and better position our coaches and student-athletes for long-term success. As college athletics continues to evolve, we must continually evaluate how we operate, align our resources with our priorities and build a structure that supports our competitive ambitions.
Connor Whelan, our Deputy Athletic Director and Chief Revenue Officer, will add oversight of football while continuing to oversee men's basketball. Connor and I will work closely together in supporting both programs, with Connor providing sport oversight while continuing to lead our external operations. Those responsibilities include revenue strategy, development, corporate partnerships, premium seating, marketing, ticket sales, fan engagement, communications, creative and digital services, and multimedia rights.
This structure builds on the strong working relationships Connor has developed with head coaches Mike Jacobs and Tod Kowalczyk. Mike and Connor will work together to build one of the nation's premier Group of 6 programs and position the Rockets to compete for opportunities to reach the College Football Playoff.
Tod has won four of the last six MAC championships, and he and Connor will continue working together to build on that success and keep Toledo men's basketball among the league's best.
I also look forward to strengthening our relationship with the UToledo Foundation and its new CEO, JR Blackburn. Closer collaboration will help align our efforts in support of Rocket Athletics and the university's long-term priorities.
These changes reflect our commitment to building a more connected, accountable and forward-looking athletics department. By clarifying responsibilities and strengthening collaboration across sport oversight, department operations and the student-athlete experience, we can better meet the demands of today's college athletics landscape.
In June, we announced Tanner Ball as our Executive Associate AD for Administration and Strategic Operations. Tanner brings valuable experience from Purdue, where he led NIL administration, revenue-sharing implementation and contract management.
He will oversee NIL and revenue sharing, including strategic decisions regarding student-athlete compensation and roster resources, helping Toledo remain competitive in a rapidly changing landscape. Tanner will also oversee women's volleyball, men's and women's cross country, women's track and field, and rowing.
Melissa DeAngelo, Executive Associate AD for Business Strategy and CFO, will serve as Senior Woman Administrator and add women's basketball to her sport oversight responsibilities. Toledo has one of the nation's most consistent and well-supported women's basketball programs, and Melissa and Ginny will work together to build on that foundation and elevate the program to an even higher level.
Brian Lutz has been elevated to Executive Associate AD for Compliance and Chief Integrity Officer. His more than two decades of compliance leadership will be invaluable in reinforcing integrity, accountability and student-athlete welfare throughout our department.
Brian Jones, UT's Senior Associate AD for Health and Wellness, has three decades of experience overseeing student-athlete health and wellness. He will add strength and conditioning to his responsibilities, helping align performance training with the broader health and well-being of our student-athletes.
Jillian Lehman, Associate AD for Student-Athlete Experience, will oversee men's and women's tennis and women's soccer.
Each of these leaders brings valuable experience, institutional knowledge and a deep commitment to Toledo. Their expanded roles will help us work more effectively across the department and strengthen our support for the coaches and student-athletes who represent the Rockets.
Modernizing our department is about more than changing organizational responsibilities. It is about ensuring we have the leadership, alignment and resources necessary to compete at the highest level while providing an outstanding experience for our student-athletes. I am grateful for the continued commitment of our leadership team and the support of the Rocket community as we build for the future.
My deepest thanks and respect,
Tom Moreland
Vice President and Director of Athletics
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