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Much like new Mean Green head football coach Seth Littrell, Baker is a young Oklahoma native who views the North Texas job as an opportunity to move closer to home while taking over a program with a high ceiling. Littrell hails from Muskogee, Okla., and played for Bob Stoops at Oklahoma, while Baker is a Valliant, Okla., native that jumped into college sports administration as a basketball operations assistant under Eddie Sutton at Oklahoma State. At North Texas, Baker would inherit a retooling football program and a men’s basketball program that has seen both its attendance and win totals drop following Johnny Jones’ 2012 departure for LSU. The Mean Green finished 245th in the 2015-16 Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup standings, second-to-last among FBS institutions. Baker’s first key decision would be whether or not to retain interim AD Hank Dickenson, a quarter-century veteran of the department and candidate for the full-time AD job who is extremely popular both within the department and in the community. Read more:. http://footballscoop.com/news/sources-wren-baker-heavy-favorite-new-ad-north-texas/#

The Mean Green Game Day goals are important to reiterate because they demonstrate how Hank Dickenson thinks and works. This campaign thrives, as do many other civic projects he leads, because of Hank’s relationships in Denton. Mean Green Game Day is one of many ventures on which Hank and I have collaborated over the years. He has chaired the Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and currently sits on the CVB’s Advisory Board, both roles where he’s been intricately involved in our initiatives. He has invested in Denton for more than 20 years, and not just to tout the Mean Green (though he never misses that opportunity). The fact is he loves this city and UNT. Recent changes in the North Texas athletics landscape have altered Hank’s title from deputy athletic director to acting athletic director. It’s my understanding that a nationwide search is underway for the new one. I just wonder, though, why everyone doesn’t see what I see. We’ve got our guy! Of course, this is only my opinion and should not be taken as the opinion of the Denton Record-Chronicle just because you are reading it in this newspaper. Like hundreds of you, I’m a Hank fan. He’s in the trenches with us, giving more than his 100 percent to uphold our Denton way of life. I don’t pretend to know what the experts look for when seeking the next Athletic Director, but I do know Hank Dickenson. He knows sports and bleeds them all. He’s been wrangling UNT athletics for more than two decades, through ups and downs, wins and losses. And he’s still here. As the team readies and Mean Green Game Day ramps up for year five, let’s do it with the best man on top. Go. Mean. Green. read more: http://www.dentonrc.com/business-tech/denton-business-headlines/20160618-kim-phillips-dickenson-the-right-person-for-unts-athletic-director.ece

North Texas acting athletic director Hank Dickenson spoke with representatives from Eastman & Beaudine Inc., the search firm helping the school search for a replacement for Rick Villarreal, on Monday. Multiple sources with knowledge of the situation told the Denton Record-Chronicle on Tuesday that the meeting took place. Those sources and others provided some perspective on where UNT’s search stands and how it might proceed. Dickenson, a longtime UNT athletic department official, has guided the school’s athletic program since June 6. Former UNT athletic director Rick Villarreal officially stepped down on Monday. Villarreal’s departure was announced on May 23. read more: http://meangreenblog.dentonrc.com/2016/06/unt-athletic-director-search-update-dickenson-interviews-with-firm.html/

https://jobs.unt.edu/applicants/jsp/shared/frameset/Frameset.jsp?time=1466457927307 Responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to: * Provides leadership and serves as the primary spokesperson for the intercollegiate athletic program. * Submits recommendations and supporting documentation to the President and Board of Regents as necessary to make decisions regarding goals, academics, capital expansion, staffing, budget appropriations, and other aspects of intercollegiate athletics. Responsible for implementation and communication of Board directives, including maintenance and control. * Establishes policies and procedures to ensure compliance with National Collegiate Athletic Association, Conference, and University of North Texas rules and Southern Association of Colleges and Schools regulations and inculcating in both the coaching and administrative staff an understanding of the importance of these norms. * Ensures that coaching and administrative staff actively support the Department and University's joint commitment to academic achievement which entails helping each student-athlete to make normal progress in completing his/her degree and to graduate within a five-year period. * Oversees the operation of the varsity sports programs in football and men's basketball through the head coaches. * Coordinates and supervises other sports programs (excluding football and men's basketball) through designated staff members. * Responsible for overseeing all fiscal and administrative operations through the appropriate staff members. Promulgates budget guidelines and approves final submissions for each area. Monitors conformance to budget and personal expense accounts. Oversees the operations of the Ticket Office and the Business Office through the appropriate staff members. * Oversees the Marketing, Communications, and Media Services Office through the Sr. Associate Athletics Director. * Directly supervises Director of Sports Medicine and Director of Strength and Conditioning in providing services to student-athletes for all intercollegiate athletics programs. * Develops long-range plans to determine need for and feasibility of constructing or upgrading athletic facilities. * Leading and coordinating, with the Office of Development, fund-raising efforts to provide for scholarships, facilities, and equipment. * Coordinates scheduling for sports events involving Conference participation or revenue contracts. Coordinates and assists on football and men's basketball future scheduling. * Supports the institution's commitment to goals set forth in the Texas Educational Opportunity Plan and the University's affirmative action plan by taking appropriate actions within the Athletics Department. Establishes goals for Athletics Department, with appropriate University officials, for gender equity in athletics programs in accordance with Title IX of Office of Civil Rights Regulations, and takes appropriate actions to work toward and to achieve those goals. * Provides leadership and oversight of institutional effectiveness efforts in intercollegiate athletics including the use of evaluation results and linking results to planning. * Keeps the Athletics Council informed as to all significant current actions (both pending and accomplished), and as to long-range planning for the athletics program. Prepares an annual report for the Athletics Council, by November 15 of each year, for the academic year just completed. * Serves as a member of the President's Staff, working with the Athletics Council and the Faculty NCAA Representative, and carrying out such other institutional duties as the President may assign.

North Texas has selected one of its veteran officials to guide its athletic department over the next few weeks while the school searches for a new athletic director. Hank Dickenson has pretty much seen it all over the course of more than two decades at the school. Putting Dickenson in charge during its search for a new AD was a solid decision by UNT president Neal Smatresk. read more: http://meangreenblog.dentonrc.com/2016/06/dickenson-a-solid-choice-for-unt-as-acting-athletic-director.html/

UNT already has undergone one search for a key hire in its athletic department during Smatresk’s tenure. The Mean Green were in the market for a new football coach after parting ways with Dan McCarney five games into last season. UNT used the search firm DHR International while looking for a replacement for McCarney and eventually lured former North Carolina assistant coach Seth Littrell to Denton. Smatresk was heavily involved in the search that led UNT to hire Littrell. UNT’s president could look to hire a search firm again. A firm could help with the search process by vetting candidates and helping facilitate meetings with school officials. read more: http://www.dentonrc.com/sports/sports-headlines/20160524-unts-process-to-pick-ad-to-take-weeks.ece

The words “Touchdown Mean Green!” can often be heard on 88.7 KNTU-FM every Saturday during the Mean Green football season, and the man behind the voice has a lot to say on how he worked his way to where he is today. Head play-by-play caller George Dunham, better known as “The Voice of the Mean Green,” has been with the UNT Radio Network since 1990. While North Texas athletics may not be as elite as other programs, Dunham feels this is where he belongs. Not only does Dunham do play-by-play for UNT athletics, but he also hosts the award winning “Dunham and Miller Show” every morning on Sports Radio 1310 “The Ticket.” Born in San Antonio, Dunham moved around during his childhood and lived in cities such as Minneapolis and Chicago. Then, in 1980, Dunham moved to the Dallas-Forth Worth area, where he attended R.L. Turner High School before attending UNT. Read more: http://ntdaily.com/play-by-play-man-makes-impact-on-athletics/

This fall, the Denton County Transportation Authority (DCTA), North Texas Athletics (UNT) and Denton Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) have partnered together to launch the 2014 Mean Green Game Day promotion, an all-new experience that seamlessly connects the DCTA A-train, merchants in downtown Denton, the Mean Green Tailgating Village and Apogee Stadium via complimentary Mean Green Game Day Shuttle transportation. The 2014 Mean Green Game Day Shuttle will launch Sept. 6, during the first North Texas football game versus Southern Methodist University. The free shuttle will operate during all North Texas football home games during the 2014-15 season, providing easy travel to and from North Texas football games with no worries about traffic and parking hassles. Mean Green Game Day shuttles will run every 15 minutes and are complimentary for the general public; however, passengers must pay regular fare for DCTA Connect bus and A-train service. Read more: http://starlocalmedia.com/carrolltonleader/mean-green-game-day-shuttle-to-launch-on-team-s/article_5aea49ba-218c-11e4-874b-0019bb2963f4.html?mode=jqm

I didn't catch the details but it sounds like both missed the game due to family members being ill.

Start of Show Skeleton crew with Georgio and many of the Mean Green Network staff out due to a bug. Only the 3rd time in 18 years that George had to leave the Ticket 1310 morning show DURING the show. Just Hank and Mac on the Mac show tonight-- Poppy out too. They all got a bug eating out after the Homecoming game. Mac said main issues with the loss were in the 2nd quarter - poor technique by the secondary - would not name who said they all were to blame. Said AState played like champions acted like they had been there before with confidence. Said they had great speed. Also mentioned turnovers that we hadn't forced a turnover in several consecutive games. Praised John Hedlund and the Women's soccer team. Spoke highly of Joey Jones and South Bama. Said he interviewed for the South Bama job and was about to take it when Urban Meyer called and offered him the job at Florida. He knows a lot about their program from those interviews and basically in just 5 short years they have a program that can win against any Sun Belt team. Said DT and Darnell Smith have a good chemistry. DT is one of the toughest guys he has been around and he will play this game despite being dinged up. Heaped more praise on Thompson's toughness. Said Darnell really stepped up his game. Mike Simmonds had been contacted by Smith who was trying to get back to Texas from Eligin? junior college...hard worker does well in practice and watches a lot of film. 9 catches for 183 yards in the last two games. Jordan Case spoke with the team last Saturday, said today was a good opportunity for the wide receivers to show what they could do. Mac loves Jordan and says he did a great job with the kids. It was an A+ speech. Andrew Power 176 yards receiving, most since Andy Blount. Mac thinks he has a chance to play at the next level, not a high level pick but possibly drafted. Will play his last game at home against South Alabama. Very proud of "AP" and the other seniors. On one of the scoring drives they ran a four- tight end set. Marcus Smith is one of their best tight ends and is out for the year. Tanner Smith the walk-on will eventually earn a scholarship. Power also caught the first pass ever at Apogee stadium. On the other side of the ball Zach Orr has another big day, should be a first team All-Sun Belt. When they go into recruiting meetings, you talk about does he have the Zach Orr character, mentioning they use the Zach Orr standard when they look at recruits. Averaging better than 9-tackles a game. You find out more about players during adversity. Zach Orr is an example of how you should handle adversity. Told Eric Capper that any awards that the SID submits for should most certainly include Zach Orr's name. Mac like 4pm start times. 19,000 this week will break the all-time record attendance for fan average at North Texas. Good weather projected. Hank talked about how the bridge is helping, the Fouts lot was packed last Saturday. Mac said when they bus in from the hotel they see more tents. He knows that when they get more wins and improve the product it will grow more. 5K were walk-up tickets Open Mike Night Questions Jay: Blessed to know how hard you and your staff are working, the excitement and works is not indicative of the record. Hedlund has a son in high school who is a very good kicker will you recruit him? Also what about transfers (Brock Berglund Darius Terrell and Reggie Pegram)? Mac: [Mac distanced from the Hedlund question due to the fact he can't comment on current prospects I think] Brock Berglund , the defensive guys say that he can play...likes his toughness, competitiveness, his feet, he really is a good player - DT is coming back and he won't give up the job easy, McNulty comes out of a redshirt after breaking his hand...[Darius] Terrell (the UT transfer) has lost some weight has gained some speed. He's like all those Desoto guys they just come to play every day they are tough...this is home to him (North Texas) - (key note here he said they would sign specifically ONE high school QB) -- Reggie Pegram from Purdue, defensive coaches and players say his tough has passed out some concussions and stingers just scored two touchdowns in Purdue’s bowl game. Hank: you can never have enough stockpiling at QB can you? Mac: You got to have a minimum of 4 - spring ball is going to be fun for these fans. Fan: I have two stupid questions, one for my wife back there in the green jacket she is scared of you. What do you write on that green piece of paper? Mac: I have notes, keep track of penalties - I'm not smart enough to remember them so I write them down...thoughts that I want to share with the coaches and the team...it’s not for show Fan: On the home games there are a lot of recruits that come into the south end zone -- how does that process work Mac: unofficial visits we can’t pay anything but we can give them 3 tickets...when a young man wants to take official visits they get 5 and we can pay mileage, food -- unofficial visits are so important now and that's why I encourage all of our fans to get to games because it makes a good impression...there are so many choice in the state of Texas...there are more and more people that want to come and see our campus and our facilities...we try to make it as positive as we can..the game day experience and atmosphere is very important in the eyes of these recruits. Fan: What do you think about all these wild uniforms, Notre Dame helmets, Oregon -- I'm wondering if UNT will come out with anything like that for next year. Mac: What I don't like is changing uniforms, I like stability -- I like people to relate to the uniform -- I like tradition and when we put the uniform together we put a lot of time into it we accentuated the green and white - Now as Hank knows our 100 year celebration is next year and we are looking at some throwback uniforms with Nike for next season but we won't change uniforms for the sake of changing uniforms while I am here. Final Segment Hank: You are a big note writing guy...people in the audience should know he likes green and blue - and sometimes pink! Mac: I do like to write notes, but I will say this at Iowa State we had a really good working relationship with all of the staff and faculty and we are trying to do this here. We all need to work together. I got a call from Mike Peterson the other day and we visited - Tony Benford and I met earlier today - there's real camaraderie here - we care about each other - if the women’s sports do great it’s good for the men and vice versa... No more coaches show for the next two Mondays because of basketball conflicts. Hank: you called me to visit with Greg McDermott the head coach at Creighton who you know very well. Mac: He's just one of those guys - Greg's just a phenomenal friend - we met at Iowa State when he was a coach there. His son Doug used to eat smores out there with my kids - we helped him grow and develop. They've got a phenomenal team and they won about 30 games. GMac has done a great job of building that program. Tony has some great players and I know he will do the same thing here. Hank: You play against LSU and some of these programs and players can get hurt -- that doesn't happen in basketball and Tony Benford has stiffened up the schedule. Mac: Should be a great challenge against Creighton and gosh almighty that would be a huge shot of confidence if you could win that game -- I hope it is on TV and if it is I will be watching it! Hank: Eli Young Band was shooting a music video here at Apogee today! Great music scene and they did a video for you coach Mac which we will show at the game this Saturday. Mac: Did they buy some football tickets? Mac: More high school games will be played here as I understand it which is great; Channel 21 will be here doing the game this Saturday. 10 of 12 games will have some type of television. This has a huge impact on our program very positive. Hank: Dave Barnett and Dougie Anderson will be calling the game. Let's talk about South Alabama. The Mean Green March you were really early this past week? Mac: It is really neat and very meaningful to our players and their parents...a lot of emotion will be there this Saturday and we hope you will be there between 1:30 and 2pm. It is a neat entry into the stadium. A lot of young kids’ high fiving, all good for North Texas! Hank: This week against UNT can get back to 3-3 in the Belt. South Alabama is 2nd in the Belt in sacks. Mac: Mike Grant when he was at Southern Miss got a lot of very good players from Mobile and now South Alabama is getting them so they have some talent. They are playing hard and tough, good speed -- we are going to have a real challenge in this game against a much improved South Alabama team. Hank: South Alabama leads the Belt in turnovers however. Mac: We need to get back to not turning the ball over - that's North Texas football right now and we gotta get back to that, Hank: You have a 4 man rotation at defensive tackle - two of these players were recruited as defensive ends. What are you looking for from the defensive tackle position? Mac: We are looking for the best athletes we can find. If you can't handle that or play with intensity we don't need you here. I have some insight into that position. I know how important it is. I know what it takes. Lincoln and Boutwell are smaller but they are very active, Cantly and Abbe are bigger and take up more space. We need guys at the position that will play with their hair on fire. Click here to view the article