The Toledo Rockets are set to wrap up another impressive season Tuesday night in the Boca Raton Bowl, but this time around, the program finds itself in unfamiliar territory. After years of stability under head coach Jason Candle, the Rockets are heading into their postseason matchup with a new face at the helm and a coaching staff that's seen more turnover than usual.
Candle, who’s been the steady hand guiding Toledo through one of its most consistent stretches in recent memory, has officially moved on. He’s accepted the head coaching job at UConn, a role he’ll begin in 2026. That move leaves Toledo in a transitional moment-one that’s coming to a head just as they prepare to face a formidable Louisville squad.
Taking over as interim head coach is Robert Weiner. Before stepping into the lead role, Weiner was the Rockets’ co-offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, so he’s no stranger to the locker room or the offensive system. But stepping in for a bowl game-especially one against a Power Five opponent-brings a different kind of pressure.
Weiner won’t be the only one adjusting on the fly. Toledo’s staff has been hit with multiple departures since the end of the regular season.
Defensive coordinator Vince Kehres has left for Syracuse, and several other assistants have moved on. What’s left is a leaner staff, with wide receivers coach R.J.
Fleming, running backs coach Nate Cole, and tight ends coach Derek Sage among those still with the team and expected to play key roles in game prep and execution.
While Toledo navigates its own internal reshuffling, Louisville enters the bowl with a bit of uncertainty of its own-though of a different kind. Head coach Jeff Brohm has reportedly been linked to the Michigan job, a potential blockbuster move that’s floated around the college football rumor mill. For now, though, Brohm remains in charge and will be on the sideline for the Cardinals.
So, Tuesday’s Boca Raton Bowl isn’t just a postseason finale-it’s a snapshot of transition. Toledo will be looking to maintain the high standard it set under Candle, even as it begins to chart a new course. And with a reshuffled staff and a new voice leading the way, the Rockets will have to rely on their veteran players and remaining coaches to keep the program’s momentum rolling-at least for one more game.