Sunday Chat is a weekly feature appearing in The Blade’s print and digital platforms each Sunday.
When the University of Toledo needed a football coach to replace Nick Saban following the 1990 season, it looked about as far away as possible.
Gary Pinkel was a veteran University of Washington assistant, considered by many to be among the best offensive coordinators in the country. But Pinkel was an Ohio native and former Kent State tight end. He left the Pacific Northwest and set up shop in northwest Ohio for a decade, leading the Rockets to an undefeated season, and a one-loss season en route to becoming the program’s winningest coach.