Eric Toukonen wrestled at Kent State University for three years, graduating in 1977.

He then served as a coach for a total of 42 years between Garrettsville, Steubenville and Claymont High Schools, including 35 as the head coach at Claymont.

He owns a career coaching record of 359-93, earning 1992 Ohio Division II Coach of the Year honors after guiding Claymont to a state title. He also coached state runner-up teams in 2009 and 2014, dual meet state runner-up teams in 2012, 2013 and 2014, 27 conference championship teams, 28 sectional championship teams and 16 district championship teams. He was named Ohio Division II Coach of the Year again in 2014. Twenty of his teams finished in the Top 10 at the state tournament.

Under Toukonen’s watch, 186 individuals qualified for state with 93 becoming place-winners, including 10 state champions and 11 runners-up.

Toukonen has been inducted into the Ohio Wrestling Coaches Hall of Fame (2004), the Medina Tournament Hall of Fame (2014) and the Alliance Top Gun Tournament Hall of Fame (2015).

He served as president of the Ohio High School Wrestling Coaches Association (1995-96) and was a member of the National Federation of State High School Associations Wrestling Rules Committee (1999-2002).