Toledo tabs Beckman as new football coach

Dec 4, 2008 - 6:35 PM TOLEDO, Ohio (Ticker) -- Tim Beckman returned home to land the first head coaching job of his career.

Beckman, the defensive coordinator at Oklahoma State, was officially named as Toledo's new head coach on Thursday.

Beckman, 43, will replace Tom Amstutz, who resigned after coaching the Rockets to a 3-9 record this season. The Berea, Ohio native has spent the past two seasons as the Cowboys' defensive coordinator.

"I am truly honored to be named the head football coach at the University of Toledo," Beckman said. "Being from Ohio and having coached in the Mid-American Conference, I have always had a great respect for the tradition and accomplishments of the Toledo football program.

"I feel this is one of the best, if not the best, football programs in the Mid-American Conference, and I am honored that I have been chosen to carry on the tradition here."

Beckman also served as Ohio State's secondary coach from 2005-06, playing a part in the Buckeyes' run to the BCS national championship game during his final season there.

In the coaching ranks since joining Auburn's staff as a graduate assistant in 1988, Beckman does have some experience in the MAC - he was the defensive coordinator at Bowling Green from 1998-2004.

"Tim is an outstanding coach and an exceptional person," Toledo athletic director Mike O'Brien said. "His experience in helping build winning football programs speaks for itself, but it only tells part of the story.

"Throughout this process, everyone had wonderful things to say about Tim. He is a man of great character who we feel will be able to recruit student-athletes who will excel in the class room and bring Rocket football back into national prominence."