TOLEDO, Ohio — The University of Toledo's athletic director, Bryan Blair, hit the one-year mark in May. He inherited a program that overachieved in 2022-2023. But, he said he thinks it can do even more.
Consider this, during the school year, the University of Toledo:
Brought home a *Record 6 Mid-American Conference titles;
Was the first school in major college history to win league titles in football, men's basketball, women's basketball, women’s cross country and men’s and women’s tennis;
Celebrated a bowl victory (Boca Raton Bowl: UT beat Liberty 21-19);
Saw women’s basketball make the NCAA Tournament and get a win in the first round (UT beat Iowa State 80-73);
Achieved a record-setting student/athlete GPA (3.472 spring semester, with 77 students receiving a perfect 4.0)
While the accomplishments on the field and in the classroom were impressive Blair believes UT can serve as a catalyst for development, progress and regional engagement. That’s the idea behind the Team Toledo effort. UT is looking for a “buy-in” from politicians, business leaders, board members, alumni and current students to create a team mentality all over the city, Blair said.
“There are very few things that can bring 25,000 people together all screaming and representing that name of a city across your chest,” he said. “We can do that. And so the more we can lean in that direction and make people proud and excited about the city they live in, I think the better for all of us.”
During a recent taping of WTOL 11’s weekend community-affairs program, Leading Edge, Blair said the momentum created last year is real, and they’re not about to let their foot off the gas.
“We're going to announce some big plans this fall in terms of our future direction, from not only a vision standpoint but from a facility standpoint, just a new way of doing things,” Blair said.
Make sure to join Jeff Smith, as he spends time talking with Blair about not only the successes of the past year but the plans for the future. And hear what Blair has to say about the Glass Bowl’s untapped potential.
Leading Edge airs Sunday at 8:30 a.m.
