They Call Him Coach - 13abc.com Toledo (OH) News, Weather and Sports

Every year at the conclusion of a sports season, there is always speculation and anticipation that coaching changes are going to take place.  The most common is, of course, a head coaching change. These changes are sometimes tough to stomach. As a college athlete, I played under 2 completely different staffs during my 4 year tenure. The thing most outsiders don't understand is that during a long sports season such as basketball- when assistant coaches know how to make connections that are life-lasting with their staff, players, and fans - seeing one of them go can be just as hard to grasp.

Todd Mitmesser has been at The University of Toledo for the past four seasons developing the post players, creating winners, and working his tail off recruiting future Rockets. He has also worked under the guidance and leadership of Head Coach Tricia Cullop for 7 years - a bond that turns the coaching relationship into much more than a "job." They coached at several destinations before landing on the same staff. Together, they have turned a pair of Division One women's basketball programs (Evansville and Toledo) into winners; renewing the rich tradition of excellence that fans have anxiously been waiting for, setting attendance records that not many thought could be possible, and winning a national title with the Rockets in 2011. These impressive accomplishments have been made under the hard work and commitment of Coach Todd Mitmesser and they are accomplishments that will always be acknowledged with the utmost respect and appreciation.

As a former player of his, one thing that was always a definite when speaking of his coaching tactics was his demand for perfection from each one of his players. He was realistic with his expectations and had standards that always pushed his players towards excellence. An aspect of the game from The University of Toledo that can surely be filled but not replaced.

For those of you who have had the opportunity to cross paths with Todd Mitmesser during his 4 years with the Lady Rockets, you may have had the chance to see that he is not just a coach, he is also a family man. His wife Susan and their two children, Marian and Edward, always gave him the utmost support and love as they traveled to games (home and away), and always understood the long hours it took to create champions out of players. Not everyone understands that aspect of the coaching world, but his family does.

I wish him and his family the best in their future endeavors. I can't thank him enough for his passion, commitment, and dedication to not just the game of basketball but to the Lady Rocket Basketball Program during the past four years. He exemplifies what being a part of the Rocket Family is all about!  GO ROCKETS!!!