TOLEDO, Ohio - University of Toledo head football coach Jason Candle signed a contract extension Wednesday that runs through the 2021 season.
Candle became head coach at the end of the 2015 regular season, after spending seven seasons as an assistant on the Rockets' staff. In his first full season at the helm, Candle lead the Rockets to a 9-4 record and an appearance in the Raycom Media Camellia Bowl. It was the Rockets' seventh straight winning season and their third straight trip to a bowl game.
“We are very pleased to announce the extension of Jason Candle’s contract through the 2021 season,” said O’Brien. “Jason has played a very important part of the success of our football program over the last eight years, first as an assistant coach and now as head coach. He is a tremendous leader and teacher of young men, and has a great desire to elevate our football program to even greater heights. We look forward to his leadership for many years to come.”
“I’m very appreciative of the support and confidence that President Gaber and Mike O’Brien have in me and my staff,” said Candle. “Our program is built on a strong foundation of success, and we are focused on bringing a Mid-American Conference Championship to this great University.”
Candle has also found a great deal of success on the recruiting trail. He was twice named the Mid-American Conference "Recruiter of the Year" by Scout.com as an assistant. Since taking over the program Candle's recruiting classes have been at the top of the conference, ranked #2 in 2016 and rated the top recruiting class in the MAC in 2017.
The Rockets open the 2017 season on August 31 in the Glass Bowl when they take on Elon.