Jan. 10, 2013
SAN DIEGO - Bob Toledo, who has 39 years of collegiate coaching experience, including 18 as a head coach, has been named offensive coordinator at San Diego State, Aztec head coach Rocky Long announced today.
Toledo has spent 41 seasons as a player or coach in college football with a great deal of that time in California, including head coaching stints at UCLA (1996-02), Pacific (1979-82) and UC Riverside (1974-75).
"We are thrilled to add Coach Toledo to our staff," Long said. "He has a great football mind and has done a fantastic job of developing offensive talent. His knowledge of California football will only help our recruiting as we continue to build our program here at San Diego State."
Toledo, 66, may be best known for his time spent at UCLA, where he was the head coach from 1996-2002 and the offensive coordinator from 1994-95.
Toledo led the Bruins to a 49-32 record, including a school-record 20-game winning streak, two Pac-10 titles, one Rose Bowl appearance and non-conference victories over Texas (twice), Alabama (twice), Michigan, Ohio State and Texas A&M.
Under Toledo, UCLA went 10-2 in 1998, climbing to No. 2 in the national polls. The Bruins finished the regular season ranked fifth nationally in scoring offense (40.5) and eighth in total offense (482.6). They set school records for total offense (5,487 yards), passing yards (3,658) and passing touchdowns (29), and Toledo was a finalist for three Pac-10 Coach of the Year awards.
Quarterback Cade McNown won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, presented to the nation's top senior quarterback, and finished third in balloting for the Heisman Trophy. He was the 12th player taken in the 1999 NFL Draft by the Chicago Bears. Offensive tackle Kris Farris won the 1998 Outland Trophy, awarded to the nation's top interior lineman, and was named first team All-America.
The 1997 UCLA team, where Long was the defensive coordinator, finished 10-2 and ranked No. 5 in the nation after rallying to defeat Texas A&M in the Cotton Bowl. The Bruins trailed the Aggies, 16-0, before making a dramatic second-half comeback to win 29-23. UCLA averaged 40.7 points and more than 430 yards during the regular season.
Prior to becoming UCLA head coach in January of 1996, Toledo was the Bruins' offensive coordinator for two seasons (1994-95) under Terry Donahue. Offensive tackle Jonathon Ogden won the Outland Trophy and tailback Karim Abdul-Jabbar was first team All-America pick in 1995.
After UCLA, Toledo moved on to become the assistant head coach, offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at New Mexico under Long in 2006. Under Toledo's direction, sophomore running back Rodney Ferguson led the Mountain West in rushing with 1,234 yards en route to earning first-team all-league honors. Offensive guard Robert Turner and Travis Brown also received first-team accolades as the Lobos advanced to a bowl game despite having to use three different quarterbacks for the first time in 15 years.
Prior to joining the Bruins, Toledo was the offensive coordinator at Texas A&M from 1989-93, helping the Aggies to a 49-12-1 record with three Southwest Conference titles and five straight bowl games, including three consecutive Cotton Bowl appearances. His 1990 Texas A&M offense once held the record for total yards in a single game (774 yards on 76 plays against Louisiana-Lafayette), while averaging 471.1 yards per contest during the season.
Altogether, Toledo has 93 wins as a head coach with stints at Tulane (2007-11), UCLA (1996-02), Pacific (1979-82) and UC Riverside (1974-75). He has coached in 13 bowl games during his career, including seven of the traditional New Year's Day bowls.
Toledo has also served as an assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at Oregon (1983-88), secondary coach at USC (1976-78) and offensive coordinator at UC Riverside (1973).
Toledo's head coaching career began in 1970 at San Francisco's Riordan High School, which finished 26-5-1 and won two Catholic Athletic League titles over three years.
A native of San Jose, Calif., Toledo starred as a quarterback at San Jose City College in 1965 and later at San Francisco State (1966-67). Toledo led SFSU to a 16-5 record over the two years with a Far Western Conference title his senior season. As a senior, Toledo earned Northern California Player of the Year honors and was named second-team All-America. He completed 211 of 396 passes for 3,513 yards and 45 touchdowns, setting eight NCAA Div. II records.
Toledo and his wife, Elaine, have three daughters, Demetra, Christa and Alissa, and eight grandchildren.