Coach Andy Mac

The Texas Senate passed a bill earlier in April creating a multibillion-dollar endowment to fund several Texas schools, a move Inside High Ed said was spurred on in part by the University of Texas' decision to depart the Big 12 for the SEC effective Summer 2024. The endowment — the Texas University Fund (TUF) — primarily benefits Texas Tech, the University of Houston, the University of North Texas and Texas State University, all of which are public research universities. No University of Texas System campus has access to the endowment. A bill for the endowment was first proposed the same summer Texas and longtime rival Oklahoma announced their decisions to depart the Big 12 for the SEC. The two schools were initially slated to depart in Summer 2025 before negotiating an exit earlier in the year to expedite that move by one year. At least one Texas politician attempted introduced a bill to block Texas' exit, but with no success. “The intent is to make these universities more competitive, strong and vital, especially in areas that will be important for regional and state economic development,” Harrison Keller, the Texas commissioner of higher education, told Inside Higher Ed. read more: https://247sports.com/Article/Texas-Senate-approves-multi-billion-dollar-endowment-for-public-research-schools-UT-excluded-amid-SEC-move-209075542/

DENTON, Texas - Denton police say they have made an arrest in the shooting death of a UNT employeemonths after he was shot and killed near campus. On Monday, police announced that 31-year-old Darontay Dashield had been arrested and is facing a murder charge. On Jan. 11, 43-year-old Cory Johnson, a UNT dining services employee, was shot multiple times inside his apartment on Eagle Drive. He died later that night. Witnesses told police they spotted a man running through the apartment complex shortly after the shooting. Investigators say they identified Dashield as the shooter through more witness interviews, physical evidence and digital evidence. Denton police said Dashield knew Johnson and had previously stayed in his apartment. They also say they determined the suspect was inside Johnson's apartment at the time of the murder. Dashield is currently in the Denton County Jail where he is being held on $500,000 bond. link: https://www.fox4news.com/news/denton-man-charged-with-murder-of-unt-employee-near-campus.amp

A funeral for Allan Wayne Maultsby will be held at Killeen City Cemetery for friends and family. Mr. Maultsby died April 15, 2023, in Harker Heights. He was born Aug. 27, 1952, in Killeen, to C.B. and Melba Maultsby. Allan was a beloved son, brother and friend to many. He was well-known for his big heart and kind soul that would forever leave an impression in the hearts of those who were lucky enough to know him. Allan graduated from Killeen High School in 1971 and attended North Texas University and the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, graduating with a Bachelors in Music. Allan’s memory will live forever within the hearts and minds of his family — never forgotten but always remembered with a smile as they think back on all the great moments they shared with him throughout their lives. The family is waiting to meet him again. read more: https://kdhnews.com/obituaries/allan-maultsby/article_305884e6-de61-11ed-9e5d-97b34c0965fc.html

On March 25, 2023, Rule, Texas, lost one of its leading citizens with the passing of Larry O. Cole, after a brief battle with cancer. Larry was born on a summer day in 1934, in the front room of his grandparents' house in the middle of the Great Depression. His early years growing up on the south plains deeply imprinted him with humility, West Texas wit, and a sense of duty. His family eventually moved to Fort Worth, Texas, where he grew and thrived for many decades. He was a 1952 graduate of Arlington Heights High School in Fort Worth, Texas, and a 1956 graduate of the University of North Texas. Upon graduation Larry entered the US Air Force and served in the Strategic Air Command as a navigator/bombardier in a B-47 Stratojet bomber, stationed at Davis-Monthan AFB in Tucson and Anderson AFB in Guam. In 1958, Larry married Eileen Peoples, his best friend's sister, who was a year behind him at Arlington Heights. While stationed in Arizona, Larry and Eileen welcomed their daughter, Ellen. After discharge from the Air Force in 1959, the young family returned to Fort Worth where Larry started his career in advertising, beginning at WBAP Radio and quickly moving over to the burgeoning television market. WBAP TV was the first television station in Texas and Larry's career paralleled its rise as NBC's flagship station in north Texas. The 1960s and 70s were full of changes starting with birth of their second daughter, Elizabeth. Larry traveled often to Los Angeles and New York City for national sales meetings and always enjoyed dining with celebrities when the network promoted their upcoming shows. In 1979 Larry and Eileen moved to Austin where he was general sales manager for KXAN. He retired in 1991. In the 1990s Larry started a second career researching flood maps for title insurance companies. He wryly commented that he was using his navigating skills. read more: https://www.statesman.com/obituaries/paco0471650

It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Snavely Daniel Swaim Sr., born August 29th, 1934. He passed away peacefully at his home with his family by his side on April 4th, 2023. Known to most as “Dan Swaim,” he was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He attended R.J. Reynolds High School and then the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, for two years. During this time, played for the Winston Salem Symphony and met his wife of 66 years and fellow bassist, Shirley Leonard. Dan completed his Bachelor of Music degree at Cincinnati Conservatory of Music and earned his Masters in Music Education from Indiana University, Bloomington. At Indiana University, Dan was the first bassist to be awarded the Performer’s Certificate of Music. Dan and Shirley played bass together again in the Atlanta Symphony. Both started teaching careers, Dan in public school music and Shirley in primary classroom education. They both excelled at their respective fields. Dan’s devotion to promoting the quality of education for young bass players everywhere was noted at least as early as the 1960s. While playing for the Dallas Symphony, he led an intensive six-week string program in the summer for students grades 3-12 of any proficiency which included three days of technique and theory and two days of chamber ensemble. Dan accepted a position as Assistant Professor of Double Bass at Wichita State University and concurrently played with the Wichita Symphony. He performed at the Wichita and Kansas City Jazz Festivals. WSU students had access to bass instruction in both classical and jazz genres. A newspaper article about him in the Wichita Eagle revealed that Dan’s aspiration was to “make the string bass a solo instrument.” Dan published articles in both the Kansas Music Review (December 1967) and Orchestra News (March 1970) that were veritable instruction guides for String Bass teachers. The articles described in great detail the instrument position, string choice, left arm position, and for the right arm, discussions of both French and German bowing. He gave specific details about achieving the best bass adjustment of each part of the bass from the pegbox to the bridge. It was clear that Dan’s goal was to make quality education for young bassists as accessible as possible. Dan became Dr. S. Daniel Swaim after completing his Doctoral degree at the North Texas State University (now UNT). The final post in his collegiate teaching experience began in 1975 as Professor of Double Bass at Arizona State University. At this location alone, he devoted 30 years of himself and his expertise to bass players from across the country and from other countries who came to study with him. For many years he played as a member of the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra and the Arizona Opera. Dan or “Doc” as many of his students always called him, retired from Arizona State University and was conferred Professor Emeritus of Double Bass. He was known for his exceptional teaching style for 40 years at the collegiate level. Even with teaching at ASU full-time, Dan still focused on education for the young bassist. He began developing Suzuki Bass Methodology in 1988 when he joined Suzuki Association of the Americas. In 1993, he became Suzuki’s first Bass Teacher Trainer. He was widely recognized as a presenter at many conferences for Suzuki, the Music Educator’s National Conference, The International Society of Bassists, and the American String Teachers Association (ASTA). He was also honored to serve as faculty at the 13th World Suzuki Method Conference in Matsumoto, Japan in 1999 again at the 16th in Massimo Japan in 2013. His success with young bass students is widely recognized, locally, nationally and internationally. He was recognized by ASTA as the Outstanding Studio Teacher of the Year in 2009. The International Society of Bassists selected him for the Special Recognition Award in the Young Bassists Ambassador category in 2017. Many of his former students now perform professionally in symphony orchestras including Atlanta, Cleveland, Milwaukee, New Mexico, Philadelphia, Phoenix Symphony, the Arizona Opera, and others. Some former students brought their children to study in his Suzuki Bass Studio and they also have gone on to play professionally. An esteemed colleague described him as quiet and strong with tons of loyalty for his students. Another admired him for the fact that Dan was one of the few classical bassists of his generation who moved easily between classical and jazz genres. Over several decades, Dan returned to North Carolina to the Brevard Music Center. He spent summers teaching players ranging from junior high school to graduate school. These summers were a chance to play again with colleagues and visiting artists from all over the country and to meet new bass players who might become the next generation of bass teachers and performers. Dan and Shirley spent leisure time at the nearby Pisgah National Forest for cookouts and also took long drives along the Blue Ridge Parkway. In honor of their wishes, our family will return their ashes to this special place they shared. Dan is pre-deceased by his parents, his sister Miriam Fielding, and his wife of 66 years, Shirley Leonard Swaim. Also mourning his passing are his three children S. Daniel Swaim Jr., David Swaim (Dora), and Kimberly Tejada (Adan). He will be missed by his grandchildren Christin Swaim-Higgins (Brian), Steven Swaim (Livia), Chelsea Weldon (K.C.), Jake Tejada (Jazmin) and Spenser Tejada (Sharon). Dan is also survived by seven great-grandchildren Cadi Swaim, Coen Swaim, Cole Swaim, Major Weldon, Kase Weldon, Amara Tejada and Lucas Swaim. There will be no services according to his wishes. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to American String Teachers Association (astastrings.org) or to the Phoenix Chamber Music Society (phoenixchambermusicsociety.org) where Dan and Shirley enjoyed many concerts together. Dan was a devoted husband, a loving father, a talented musician, and a great teacher, and he has been called a “true southern gentleman.” He will be missed by all who knew him. Read more: https://www.azcentral.com/obituaries/par069231

Connie Wynette Porter, age 78, of Fayetteville, Ark., died on April 12, 2023, in Fayetteville. She was born on January 4, 1945, in Knox City, Texas. Connie was the daughter of W.D. Hollaway and Mary Wynelle Barnett Hollaway. She graduated from Robert E. Lee High School in Baytown, Texas. After graduating from high school, Connie received her undergraduate degree from North Texas University before getting her master's degree in special education from Texas Women's University. Connie went on the teach in Dallas and Houston before moving to England and teaching at Lakenheath Air Force Base. While in England, she traveled extensively across Europe. read more: https://www.nwaonline.com/obituaries/2023/apr/19/connie-porter-2023-04-19/

There’s an urban legend that Henry Ford, creator of the commercial automobile, said, “If I would have asked people what they wanted, they would have said faster horses.” As creatures of habit, a technological leap can be difficult to adjust to. The same can now be said for today’s increasingly data-driven world. Determined to leverage these tools in higher education, the University of North Texas and Reynolds Community College (Va.) are building a culture of faculty and administrators equipped to leverage AI-powered predictive analytics and data visualization products to strategize more effective enrollment tactics. “Prior to having the tools in their hands, there was a big question mark. ‘Why is this a game changer?’ We already had tons of reports. Staff was churning out literally thousands of static PDFs out of my unit,” says Melanie Boynton, director of institutional research and analytics at Reynolds. “The internal selling we had to do was difficult, but now people really love these tools. This is the most data-informed they’ve ever been in their entire lives.” Before North Texas had any analytics software suite, the administration’s only way to assess future recruitment and enrollment trends was by backtracking minute details and analyzing the only results they had – the ones that had already happened. Now, North Texas has 1,200+ trained employees, from administrative assistants up to the president, using their predictive analytics software suit to forecast trends years from now to make more informed decisions, says Jason Simon, associate vice president of data, analytics and institutional research at North Texas. Preparing for the storm Simon thanks his university president, Neal Smatresk, for modernizing North Texas’ enrollment strategies. “It takes effort and support from the top to achieve a higher level of analytic maturity,” he said. “There are some foundational hurdles that most institutions haven’t figured out how to get over yet.” However, Simon believes schools may be running out of time to adapt. “As we approach the demographic cliff of the traditional 18-24-year-old market, I believe that institutions that mature their analytics and invest in their people who know the data are probably going to fare a little better than those who are a little late to the party,” says Jason Simon, associate vice president of data, analytics and institutional research at North Texas. “I’m concerned for students. We all want to see us produce graduates.” Read more: https://universitybusiness.com/these-schools-re-tooled-their-enrollment-playbook-using-data-to-drive-growth/

The Texas House approved two measures this week that would create the Texas University Fund and allocate billions for higher education research to certain universities, including The University of North Texas. On Tuesday, the House gave its final approval in a 136-11 vote to House Bill 1595 to change the name of the National Research University Fund, which currently provides funding to "emerging research universities," to the Texas University Fund. A day earlier, in a 132-10 vote, the House approved House Joint Resolution 3, which proposes a constitutional amendment to enact the bill and allocate $3.5 billion to the fund. Rep. Greg Bonnen, R-Friendswood, filed both proposals in the House. The two bills are part of the Legislature’s effort to support higher education research and expand funding to Texas State University, Texas Tech University, the University of Houston, the University of North Texas and other higher education institutions. The Senate bill is one of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick's priorities this legislative session. "As Texas’ economy and population continue to grow rapidly, so do our workforce needs. Cutting-edge research and innovation are occurring at Texas universities, adding fuel to our economic engine" Patrick said in a statement after the Senate legislation passed. "The new Texas University Fund will provide funding for our non-Permanent University Fund universities so we can continue powering the Texas and American economy forward for decades to come." read more: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/education/2023/04/19/texas-legislature-lawmakers-ok-creating-texas-university-fund/70104917007/

HOUSTON – The University of Houston women's basketball program received freshly signed paperwork from N'yah Boyd on Tuesday inking her commitment to play for the Cougars in 2023-24. A 5-6 guard, Boyd joins Houston after most recently playing at UTEP in 2022-23. Boyd is a career 8.9 points per game scorer that has averaged 2.9 assists per game in 105 career Division-I appearances. The Mesquite, Texas, native averaged 11.6 points per game for the Miners in 2022-23, starting 25 of the 28 games she played in. Boyd scored in double figures 20 different times this past season, including a season-high 20-point game on 8 of 15 shooting against UAB. Before playing in San Antonio, Boyd played the 2021-22 season for Oklahoma State where she started 11 games. The guard scored in double figures twice for the Cowboys but played a career-low 406 minutes. The guard started her collegiate career at North Texas, spending two seasons in Denton where she led the Mean Green in assists her freshman campaign in 2019-20. In 20 games as a sophomore, Boyd averaged 11.7 points a game, 2.8 rebounds a game and a career-high 3.6 assists per game. Head Coach Ronald Hughey has now signed three transfers this spring after he signed Maliyah Johnson from Pittsburg in March and signed Djessira Diawara in April. read more: https://uhcougars.com/news/2023/4/18/womens-basketball-cougars-get-boyds-signature-of-approval.aspx

Texas Tech: Grant McCasland Scott Drew’s coaching tree has gotten a lot of love lately after Jerome Tang’s sterling first season at Kansas State. Texas Tech hopes McCasland, who built a dominant mid-major program at North Texas, can continue to add to the Drew tree’s legend. McCasland’s North Texas teams played a grind-it-out style that consistently ranked among the slowest paces in the country, but the results didn’t lie: The only season North Texas won fewer than 20 games under McCasland was the shortened 2021 season, and the Mean Green beat Purdue in the NCAA tournament that year. He’s fresh off a 31-win season in ’22–23 capped by an NIT title. McCasland isn’t the larger-than-life personality Chris Beard was in marketing the Texas Tech program, but there’s no doubt he’s a high-level coach. If he can properly harness the power of the Tech fan base both in terms of home court advantage and NIL resources in recruiting, the ceiling for this hire is incredibly high. Grade: A-

Fresno State head coach Justin Hutson has added his fourth commitment for the 2023 recruiting class. North Texas bounce-back recruit Mykell Robinson announced his commitment to the Bulldogs on Tuesday. Robinson is a 6-foot-7 wing who spent the past two years at the junior college level. He comes off of a double-digit scoring season with two years of eligibility. Robinson chose Fresno State over reported offers from Alabama State, Charleston Southern, Hampton, Louisiana-Monroe, UW-Milwaukee and Northwestern State. Originally out of Missouri City (Texas) Sunrise Christian, Robinson signed with North Texas over reported offers from Tulsa, Minnesota, Wyoming, Austin Peay, UMass, Mississippi Valley State, Mount St. Mary’s and San Diego. He spent one season with the Mean Green, appearing briefly in 13 games as a true freshman during the pandemic-impacted 2020-21 season. read more: https://247sports.com/college/fresno-state/Article/Fresno-State-basketball-Mykell-Robinson-commits-commitment-North-Texas-Ranger-College-Dodge-City-forward--208587195/

https://msubobcats.com/sports/mens-basketball/roster/great-osobor/5704

The North Texas Mean Green mascot is one of the more confusing nickname/mascot mismatches in college football, so we attempted to explain it. As the North Texas Mean Green prepare for their first season in the AAC, we dive into the history of the Mean Green mascot — one of the more confusing mascot/nickname mismatches in college football. What Is the North Texas Mean Green Mascot? “Scrappy” is the Mean Green mascot, a larger-than-life eagle with a pointed, ferocious, beak that encapsulates the “mean” element of the program’s moniker. Unlike most eagles you’ll find in a zoo or the wild, the North Texas mascot has an impressive wingspan in a shade of the team’s distinctive green, while sporting the uniform of the sports team it represents. We know what you’re thinking. What on earth has an eagle got to do with “Mean Green”? Well, the Mean Green mascot actually refers to the program’s long-held official nickname rather than the current and well-known moniker. Although the program was formed in 1913, North Texas spent its first years without a formal mascot. Having been referred to as “the Normal Boys” and “Normalities” early on, it was decided in the early 1920s that the program needed an official mascot. Like in-state rivals Texas State, the student body wanted to find a nickname that was unique to the program. The focus for North Texas was discovering a name that would be unique in the state of Texas. As a result, Eagles was chosen over Dragons and Hawks. MORE: 100% FREE NFL Mock Draft Simulator North Texas was officially known as the Eagles in 1922, but the Mean Green mascot remained absent until 1950, when a live Golden Eagle made an appearance at an October clash with Oklahoma Tech. READ MORE: https://collegefootballnetwork.com/north-texas-mean-green-mascot-history/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter