Men’s basketball coach included in ESPN analyst’s ‘Five for the Future 50’ list

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Head Coach Tod Kowalczyk has been recognized as one of five coaches who will be deserving a position among the top 50 coaches in the country in the future, according to ESPN analyst Fran Frischilla

In his article on ESPN.com, Fraschilla wrote, “When he arrived in 2010 after a successful stint at Green Bay, Kowalczyk inherited a Rockets program decimated by NCAA violations and [Academic Progress Rate] issues. In his first season at Toledo, he won four games. Three years later, however, the Rockets won 27 and have a large part of their nucleus returning for 2014-15.”

Kowalczyk, 47, was named the Rockets’ head coach in 2010, assuming the reins of a program that had endured three straight losing seasons and was coming off a 4-28 win-loss mark. Since his first season at the helm, Kowalczyk has guided UT to a 61-37 record, including a 27-7 ledger in 2013-14 that ranks fourth for most wins ever by a Mid-American Conference men’s program.

During the 2013-14 campaign, Toledo captured a share of its eighth MAC regular-season title, appeared in its eighth National Invitation Tournament in program history, and posted its first unbeaten home record (fourth in school history) since the 1966-67 season. The Rockets also established school records for most points (2,694), free throws made (643) and free throws attempted (887).

Prior coming to Toledo, Kowalczyk posted a 136-112 record in eight years as Wisconsin-Green Bay’s head coach. The Phoenix advanced to post-season play and notched back-to-back 22-win seasons in his last two seasons. In addition, every player who completed their eligibility while Kowalczyk was Green Bay’s head coach received their degree.