Amstutz, currently in his eighth year as head coach of the Rockets, has been under increasing fire recently for the Rockets' plummeting football fortunes. Toledo is currently 2-6 and winless in four games at home this season.  

 

On the verge of a third consecutive losing season, it is expected that Amstutz will be retained by Toledo but reassigned to a capacity outside of the athletics department when the official announcement is made jointly by Toledo Athletics Director Mike O'Brien and Amstutz at the Monday morning press conference.   

 

During Amstutz's tenure the Rockets have compiled a record of 57-38, have won two MAC titles (2001, 2004) and made four bowl appearances. But coming off of consecutive 5-7 seasons in 2006 and 2007, the amiable head coach had fallen out of favor among Toledo supporters.

 

This season, likely to be the Rockets' third consecutive losing campaign, was highlighted by Toledo defeating Michigan 13-10 as the Rockets' handed the Wolverines their first ever loss to a Mid-American Conference team but the goodwill generated by the victory was offset by blowout losses to Northern Illinois (38-7) and Florida International (35-16).

 

"Toledo Tom" as Amstutz is affectionately called, has been associated with the University of Toledo for 32 years from his days as an offensive lineman through his coaching tenure.

 

Amstutz began his coaching career as an assistant at Toledo under Chuck Stobart in 1977 and aside from a three-year stint as an assistant at Navy from 1987-1989 has spent his entire career at Toledo.

 

A Toledo native, Amstutz was named head coach of the Rockets in 2001 succeeding Gary Pinkel who left to take over the head coaching post at the University of Missouri.