Rotary welcomes Toledo AD to talk Rockets' success

FINDLAY — Continuing top-tier success is an emphasis of The University of Toledo's athletic programs, and Bryan Blair, Toledo's director of athletics, proudly shared many facts about the Rockets' ascension while speaking at the Findlay Rotary Club's Wednesday meeting. Toledo ranks No. 3 among all Division 1 teams in combined winning percentage for football, men's basketball and women's basketball (Ohio State is No. 1), and continues to churn out teams with extraordinary success and athletes with professional careers. "Everyone longs for the good ole days," Blair said. "These are the good ole days of Toledo athletics. The goal is to make it last." Blair offered many strategies the university is employing to make that happen. He wants to continue to grow the in-game experience and community engagement through events on campus, making Rockets athletics a large part of the student experience. "How do we continue to surprise people," is a question he often asks. He emphasized the importance of student-athletes, and said Toledo's mix of academics and athletics makes it a desirable location. Rockets athletes carry a cumulative 3.3 grade point average, and 40% of student athletes are in engineering or business tracks. Success both in the field and in the classroom is important to Blair. "We want that meaningful degree in one hand and a championship ring on the other," he said. Blair spoke of the culture he hopes to foster in his department — "what you celebrate and what you tolerate," he said — and that every athletics employee has undergone artificial intelligence (AI) training. Continuing to look ahead, whether it is to find applications for AI or navigating college athletics' ever-changing landscape, is paramount to someone in his role, he said. Blair also spoke to the natural connection between The University of Toledo and the Findlay area, with many UT graduates in greater Hancock County. He also mentioned of the natural tie between this area's employers and Toledo's engineering, healthcare and business programs. Blair spoke of his excitement of the Rockets' men's basketball team opening the season most years with an exhibition game against the Oilers at The University of Findlay's Croy Gymnasium.