Search the Community

http://www.wfaa.com/sports/new-north-texas-coach-salvages-class-with-late-surge/31347255

DENTON -- The University of North Texas may have to repay more than $75 million that it was overpaid by the state. UNT President Neal Smatresk isn't mincing words in taking accountability for years of bad accounting in the university's books. "Were we non-compliant? Yes. Did we fail to follow proper state procedures?" Smatresk said. "We sure did." A report from the state auditor shows UNT received more than $75 million more in funding than it should have by allegedly "manipulating payroll" and "paying employees with state funds when those employees were not eligible to be paid with state funds." Read more: http://www.wfaa.com/story/news/education/2014/09/26/unt-state-funding-scandal-report/16246183/

DENTON — The University of North Texas basketball team will open conference play on Thursday with a four-game winning streak. On their team are two college graduates with playing eligibility left. “I got my Bachelor of Science in criminal justice,” said UNT center Kelvin Gaines. “It’s kind of a long name: it's Interactive virtual Digital Communications,” North Texas guard Vertrail Vaughns said of his degree. Gaines is from Florida and played at Cincinnati before transferring to Denton. Vaughns went to Mesquite High School and played at George Mason. Because Gaines and Vaughn are college graduates, they were able to transfer to North Texas and start playing basketball right away. They did not have to sit out a year. So now, they're going to school here and working on their Masters. “My academic advisors at Mason told me about it,” Vaughns said. “If you’re a grad student, then you can go and play right away." Read more: http://www.wfaa.com/sports/College-grads-with-eligibility-left-help-UNT-basketball-239177831.html

My wife always watches the 10 pm news and she yelled at me, "Hey Rick Villarreal is on the news, hurry!" Sure enough there was RV being interviewed and a real nice segment about UNT football getting top 25 votes! The good effects of this bowl win just won't stop! GMG!

DENTON - University of North Texas Head Football Coach Dan McCarney just completed his third season at North Texas, and the turnaround under his leadership has been remarkable. When we got here, they were 1-16 at home. 1-16, McCarney recalled. When we brought him [in], he was known for doing this, immediately, said North Texas Athletic Director Rick Villarreal. He changed the culture of our kids about how to approach life, how to approach academics, and how they approached the things they were doing. Not one player has ever been part of a winning season in college, not one player has ever been to a bowl game, McCarney said. To do that and to share it and to have this opportunity, that means more than I can put into words. In their first year in Conference USA, the school won eight games, the most in 10 years for UNT and the most for McCarney since he was the head coach at Iowa State 13 years ago. Read more: http://www.wfaa.com/sports/UNT-waiting-for-word-on-where-they-are-headed-for-bowl-234692641.html

DENTON — Tony Benford is in his first year as the head basketball coach at the University of North Texas. So is his associate head coach, Rob Evans. Between them, they have a combined 60 years of college coaching experience. "You know, we've experienced it all," Evans said. "So when we see something that happens, we probably saw it before it happened." "He's just a great ambassador for us here at North Texas," Benford said about his colleague. "I tell my players, 'Guys, you are very lucky and fortunate to have somebody with Coach Evans' knowledge on our staff." Benford and Evans have a relationship that goes back to the 1980s, when Evans helped recruit Benford at Texas Tech. Both are from Hobbs, New Mexico. "It was a big time Hobbs connection," Benford said. "I tell you what — Coach Evans, he was the best recruiter for football and basketball back in the day when he was at Texas Tech." read more: http://www.wfaa.com/sports/college/At-North-Texas-coaching-is-all-in-the-family-187044931.html

It was a summer of change for the University of North Texas men’s basketball team. Johnny Jones, UNT’s head coach for the last 11 years, left the program to take the reins at his alma mater, LSU. Jones spent his tenure turning the basketball program around, leading the Mean Green to five consecutive 20 win seasons from 2007-11 and four Sun Belt Conference Tournament championship games, including each of the last three, and two NCAA Tournament berths. Jones leaves behind big shoes to fill, but the program intends to pick up right where it left off. Replacing Jones is Tony Benford, who comes to Denton by way of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he was the associate head coach for Marquette. Under head coach Buzz Williams, Benford helped Marquette reach the Sweet 16 each of the previous two seasons. In his many years in coaching, Benford has seen plenty of talent. Last season, Jae Crowder, the 34th pick in this summer’s NBA Draft, won the 2012 Big East Player of the Year under his tutelage. Crowder, now a member of the Dallas Mavericks, is the ninth NBA draft pick that Benford has coached in his career. The tenth could potentially already be playing for North Texas, but more on that later. Benford will have his hands full this season as the Mean Green are slated to face some of the nation’s top programs while also competing in the NIT Season Tip-Off Tournament for the first time in school history. Kansas State, who eliminated UNT from March Madness in 2007 on the shoulders of Michael Beasley, will be in North Texas’ bracket in that tournament. The two will meet if they both advance to the second round. Read more: http://www.wfaa.com/sports/basketball/In-Tony-we-trust-North-Texas-basketball-preview-173724821.html