​Photo by: Will McLellandA new era of Toledo football is officially underway.After years of stability under Jason Candle, the Rockets will have a new leader on the sideline in 2026. Mike Jacobs was named Toledo’s head coach on Dec. 10, 2025, taking over after Candle departed the program to become the head coach at UConn.Jacobs arrives in Toledo with an impressive track record of winning everywhere he’s been. Now, the challenge will be carrying that success into the FBS level and keeping Toledo among the top programs in the Mid-American Conference.His first coaching staff gives the Rockets plenty of reason for optimism.Jacobs has surrounded himself with coaches who bring head coaching experience, familiarity with his system and a history of winning. Among the biggest additions are Cris Reisert as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, Jahmal Brown as defensive coordinator and safeties coach, and Kory Allen as associate head coach and tight ends coach.Mike Jacobs Takes Over in ToledoJacobs comes to Toledo after spending two seasons as the head coach at Mercer, where he quickly turned the Bears into one of the top programs at the FCS level.Mercer went 20-6 under Jacobs, winning back-to-back Southern Conference championships in 2024 and 2025. The success was nothing new for Jacobs, who had already built winning programs during previous head coaching stops at Notre Dame College and Lenoir-Rhyne.Across those three programs, Jacobs compiled an impressive 94-23 career record, winning more than 80 percent of his games as a head coach.His connection to Ohio football also runs deep.Jacobs played offensive line at Ohio State, spending time with the Buckeyes under both John Cooper and Jim Tressel. After building his coaching career through the Division II and FCS levels, Jacobs now returns to his home state with an opportunity to lead one of the MAC’s most established programs.The expectations won’t be small.Toledo has become accustomed to competing for conference championships, and Jacobs isn’t arriving to oversee a rebuild. He’s taking over a program that expects to win immediately.Cris Reisert Takes Control of the OffenseOne of the most interesting additions to Jacobs’ staff is Cris Reisert, who will serve as Toledo’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.Reisert comes to Toledo after serving as the head coach at Gardner-Webb, giving the Rockets another coach with experience running his own program.Before Gardner-Webb, Reisert built an impressive résumé at Tiffin University. He went 40-11 as Tiffin’s head coach and helped establish the Dragons as one of the top Division II programs in the region.Now, he’ll be responsible for putting together Toledo’s new-look offense.Having a former head coach running the offense could be valuable for Jacobs, especially during his first season making the jump to the FBS level. Reisert understands the responsibility that comes with managing an entire program and should give Jacobs someon