Kyle Rowland has 16 years of experience in collegiate athletics coverage, including six years as the Rockets beat writer for The Toledo Blade.
Kyle Rowland Named Assistant Athletic Director of Communications
4/21/2026 8:43:00 AM | Athletics
Former Toledo Blade sportswriter covered the Rockets for six years
TOLEDO, Ohio — The University of Toledo announced today that Kyle Rowland has been hired as Assistant Athletic Director of Communications.
Rowland brings 16 years of experience in collegiate athletics coverage to the role, including six years as the Toledo Rockets beat writer for The Toledo Blade. He covered Toledo Athletics from 2020 until his departure from the newspaper in September 2025 to join NIL Wire, where he covered the rapidly evolving college sports business scene.
In his role with the Rockets, Rowland will oversee media relations, strategic messaging, digital storytelling, and brand communications for Toledo's 17 varsity sports.
A 2009 graduate of Ohio State University with a degree in athletic communication, Rowland has built a distinguished career in sports media, earning multiple state and national journalism honors, including the 2024 Ohio APME sportswriter of the year. His work has appeared across print, digital, video, radio, and television platforms, and he has developed extensive relationships with student-athletes, coaches, administrators, and national media members.
"Kyle's understanding of Toledo Athletics, combined with his communications expertise and firsthand knowledge of today's college athletics environment, will make him a tremendous addition to our department," said Deputy Athletic Director/Chief Revenue Officer Connor Whelan. "We're excited to welcome him to Team Toledo."
Rowland will fill the role vacated by longtime Associate Athletic Director of Communications Paul Helgren, who is retiring in July after more than 28 years of service to the University and the Rockets. Helgren has overseen athletics communications during one of the most successful and transformative periods in UT Athletics history, serving as a trusted voice and leader for multiple generations of student-athletes and coaches.
"I'm grateful for the opportunity to return to Toledo Athletics in this capacity," Rowland said. "Having covered the Rockets for many years, I know what this department means to the university and the community. I'm honored to follow Paul Helgren's legacy and help tell the stories of Toledo's student-athletes, programs, and people."
Rowland and his wife Stacey have two daughters, Whitney and Emerson.
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Rowland brings 16 years of experience in collegiate athletics coverage to the role, including six years as the Toledo Rockets beat writer for The Toledo Blade. He covered Toledo Athletics from 2020 until his departure from the newspaper in September 2025 to join NIL Wire, where he covered the rapidly evolving college sports business scene.
In his role with the Rockets, Rowland will oversee media relations, strategic messaging, digital storytelling, and brand communications for Toledo's 17 varsity sports.
A 2009 graduate of Ohio State University with a degree in athletic communication, Rowland has built a distinguished career in sports media, earning multiple state and national journalism honors, including the 2024 Ohio APME sportswriter of the year. His work has appeared across print, digital, video, radio, and television platforms, and he has developed extensive relationships with student-athletes, coaches, administrators, and national media members.
"Kyle's understanding of Toledo Athletics, combined with his communications expertise and firsthand knowledge of today's college athletics environment, will make him a tremendous addition to our department," said Deputy Athletic Director/Chief Revenue Officer Connor Whelan. "We're excited to welcome him to Team Toledo."
Rowland will fill the role vacated by longtime Associate Athletic Director of Communications Paul Helgren, who is retiring in July after more than 28 years of service to the University and the Rockets. Helgren has overseen athletics communications during one of the most successful and transformative periods in UT Athletics history, serving as a trusted voice and leader for multiple generations of student-athletes and coaches.
"I'm grateful for the opportunity to return to Toledo Athletics in this capacity," Rowland said. "Having covered the Rockets for many years, I know what this department means to the university and the community. I'm honored to follow Paul Helgren's legacy and help tell the stories of Toledo's student-athletes, programs, and people."
Rowland and his wife Stacey have two daughters, Whitney and Emerson.
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