The Toledo Rockets have moved quickly to find a new leader of the football program, reportedly tabbing Mike Jacobs as the replacement to Jason Candle, who departed for UConn last week.
Matt Zenitz of CBS
Sports was first to report the deal being finalized on Wednesday afternoon. Toledo confirmed the hire later on via Twitter.
Jacobs, a native of Maumee, Ohio, has been the head coach at FCS Mercer since 2024, accumulating a 20-6 record— including 15-1 in Southern Conference play— in that stretch. Over his entire head coaching career, Jacobs has been an accomplished builder, gaining a reputation for quick turnarounds and a balanced, relentless style of play.
“From the moment we began this process, it was evident that Mike embodies the toughness, humility, integrity and relentless competitive drive that have long defined Toledo Football,” Toledo athletic director Bryan B. Balie said via press release. “His commitment to developing young men, his blueprint for sustained excellence, and his sharp football mind make him exactly the kind of leader we want guiding this program. We are thrilled to welcome Mike and his family back home to Northwest Ohio, and we look forward to the impact he will make on our student-athletes, our campus, and our community.”
After his four-year career as an offensive lineman and long snapper at Ohio State, Jacobs immediately began his climb up the coaching ladder, landing on the 2022 Eastern Michigan coaching staff as a graduate assistant. After a stop at D-III Wilmington as an offensive line coach, Jacobs re-emerged at Purdue as a graduate assistant from 2005-2007, before going back down to Division II to coach defensive line for the California (PA) Vulcans from 2008-13.
2014 saw a move to Division II Notre Dame College in Ohio, where he would ascend to head coach two season later. Success was immediate; Jacobs went 9-2 with an 8-2 record in Mountain East Conference play in his debut season, with the MEC’s best scoring offense, rushing offense and special teams unit. The Falcons also earned a Top 25 ranking for the first time in program history in 2016.
2018 saw Jacobs take the Falcons to new heights, finishing undefeated in the regular season (10-0) and advancing to the NCAA Division II Semifinals before falling to eventual national champion Valdosta State to finish 13-1. 2019 saw Notre Dame College repeat the playoff feat, finishing 12-2 with a loss in the quarterfinals.
His success in Euclid caught the eyes of Lenoir-Rhyne in North Carolina, who hired him for the 2020 season. After a 3-1 debut in the Division II COVID season, Jacobs led the Bears to two D-II Playoff appearances (2021, 2023) and a 29-8 mark in three full seasons, holding sole or split possession of the division in three of his four seasons on campus.
Jacobs would get his chance at the Division I level with Mercer in 2024. Much like his prior two stops, success was immediate, with the Bears finishing 11-3 in his first season with a loss in the NCAA FCS Quarterfinals to eventual national champion North Dakota State. His efforts earned him a finalist spot for the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year award. 2025 saw Jacobs and his crew finish 9-3 with a second-straight FCS Playoff appearance.
Overall, Jacobs is 94-23 in his career over 10 seasons, with six playoff appearances between FCS and Division II in that span. Jacobs’ programs have graduated 13 All-Americans, 17 All-Region players and 100 All-Conference players prior to the 2024 season.
Jacobs’ teams have won in a variety of fashions. At Notre Dame College, the team was led by a dynamic offensive attack. Over his time at both Lenoir-Rhyne and Mercer, Jacobs focused in on fine-tuning the defense— culminating in the 2024 Mercer Bears leading the FCS in forced turnovers (34), passes intercepted (25) and rushing defense (70.8 opposing yards allowed per game.)
“My family and I are humbled and honored to lead the University of Toledo’s storied football program,” Jacobs said via press release. “We are looking forward to being a part of Team Toledo and helping this program achieve new heights.”
The Toledo Rockets, currently shepherded by interim head coach Robert Weiner, will play in the Boca Raton Bowl against Louisville on Tuesday, December 23rd.
The 2026 season kicks off in East Lansing, Michigan, when they take on the Michigan State Spartans on Saturday, September 5th.
This is a developing story and will be updated as new information comes in.
