Page 43 - Toledo Football Media Guide - 2012

THE COACHES 43

So much has happened in Matt Campbell’s coach-ing career that it is hard to believe he is just 32 years old.

Campbell was named head coach for the Toledo Rockets on Dec. 12, 2011, becoming the 26th head football coach in school history and the youngest head coach in the NCAA Division I FBS by more than three years.

Just 16 days after taking over the helm, Campbell led his Rockets to a 42-41 victory over Air Force in the 2011 Military Bowl. It was only the latest chapter in his me-teoric rise that began just a decade ago.

Following a stellar playing career at Mount Union that included three national titles, Campbell returned to his alma mater in 2005, serving as ofensive coordinator/ofensive line coach at the age of 25. Once again, the Purple Raiders won the NCAA Di-vision III title.

Campbell then moved on to Bowling Green, where he had previously served as a graduate as-sistant. He coached the ofensive line for two sea-sons under Gregg Brandon before being promoted to run-game coordinator in 2008.

Campbell then joined the Rocket staf as the ofensive coordinator under head coach Tim Beck-man. At age 29, Campbell was the second-young-est coordinator in the NCAA Division I FBS, but that

didn’t stop him frommolding the Rockets into one of the highest scoring ofenses in the country. In 2009, Campbell helped guide UT to the No. 16-ranked ofense in the country (437.9 yards per game) despite losing senior quarterback Aaron Opelt to injury. A year later, the Rockets went 8-5 and their frst bowl ap-pearance in fve years thanks to an ofense that ranked No. 3 in the Mid-American Conference.

oach Matt Campbell

Under Campbell’s guidance, Toledo’s ofense averaged 53.4 points per game in its fnal fve games last season.

UT Athletic Director Mike O’Brien named Matt Campbell the 26th head football coach in the his-tory of the University of Toledo on Dec. 12, 2011 .