Toro is known for emphasizing the mental aspects of the game and making widespread use of philosophical principles,[1] as well as other unorthodox techniques that include the incorporation of visual aids and poetry, which has earned him the nicknames "Jedi Master" and "sensei".
[3] In 1991, after players Carl Herrera, Gabriel Estaba and Yván Olivares expressed dissatisfaction with then-coach of the Venezuela national basketball team Jesús Córdobés, Francisco Diez (then president of the Instituto Nacional del Deporte) travelled to Puerto Rico with the intention of recruiting Flor Meléndez.
However, after negotiations were hindered due to his BSN contract, the coach recommended Toro for the role.
In his first competition, Toro led Venezuela to the first place of the South American Tournament, for which received a bonus of only $1,500.
[4] His eponymous younger son, Julito, who worked as his assistant in 2009-10, died from complications of pneumonia in 2015.