Chris Thomsen

BIG DAWG · November 12, 2015

Chris Thomsen and I share a common friend who told me today that he has been contacted by NT to gauge his interest, but no interview has been set up at this time. He made sure to let the university know he is interested.

The more I think about him as a possibility, he kind of reminds me of Art Briles in the route he is taking.

Please don't misunderstand my comparison, in that I think he is an Art Briles starter kit, but both have HS experience, went to college to cut their teeth as position coaches, then became college head coaches. Art has demonstrated more success over a longer career, but Thomsen has Texas ties (in the NT area), has recruited the area as a HC, and I would think has the respect of Texas HS coaches.

What might be more important, to me anyway, might be fact that he could also provide longer range stability to the program than some of the younger, more glamorous, options that are out there.

SilverEagle · November 12, 2015

He should have lots of local ties since he played football and baseball at TCU.

HoustonEagle · November 12, 2015

Looks like he may have got in a bit of trouble with the NCAA at one point but other than that i like him.

RETSO · November 12, 2015

He is no Darrell Dickey, but better than most.

TheReal_jayD · November 12, 2015

http://www.texastech.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/032012ace.html

video of chris. had 4 draft picks at ACU. Thats 4 more than UNT in the last decade.

Ben Gooding · November 12, 2015

I want to be the one to say it...NO.

If this our guy and he does get hired I will be digging this very comment up in about 3.5 years. There is not room for OL coaches to be head coaches. We can do better. With that said, for the ones that are pro Thomsen, this is so a RV hire.

Got5onIt · November 12, 2015

Solid candidate. I would behind this hire.

untjim1995 · November 12, 2015

Definitely would be a good person to interview...

BillySee58 · November 12, 2015

I want to be the one to say it...NO.

If this our guy and he does get hired I will be digging this very comment up in about 3.5 years. There is not room for OL coaches to be head coaches. We can do better. With that said, for the ones that are pro Thomsen, this is so a RV hire.

If your complaint and reasoning for him not deserving the job is that OL coaches should not be made head coaches, then you clearly have not done adequate research on the man to be saying he shouldn't be the head coach.

You have to research the individual, not just job title. That, to me, has been RV's major flaw. So it's more like RV to say what you are saying than to hire him. This one would not be as easy for him to say "well people thought it was the best move at the time" if he didn't work out. Then again, RV would still say that regardless.

Edited November 12, 2015 by BillySee58

GoMeanGreen1999 · November 12, 2015

Definitely would be a good person to interview...

Do we know of anyone that has been interviewed or do they just see if there is interest first and then if one doesn't take it you move on down the interested list?

James329 · November 12, 2015

Not at the top of the list, but definitely not at the bottom either.

Cerebus · November 12, 2015

He is one of the best recruiters in the country. I he was willing to structure his contract in such a way to let him hire experience coordinator and a good staff, it would be a very good hire.

If we could somehow get both Norvell and Thomesen to come here... I don't know, my heart would grow three sizes?

GoMeanGreen1999 · November 12, 2015

I am in this boat

untbowler · November 12, 2015

I would be fine with him as he has won at smaller places.

I also would not mind the James Madison Coach, Ga Southern, Arkansas St, or Jacksonville State coaches as they have shown they can win at remote destinations with out the amenities, of course everyone one of them have much better fan, school, and alumni supported programs, so UNT might be lateral move outside of the money.

SilverEagle · November 12, 2015

I want to be the one to say it...NO.

If this our guy and he does get hired I will be digging this very comment up in about 3.5 years. There is not room for OL coaches to be head coaches. We can do better. With that said, for the ones that are pro Thomsen, this is so a RV hire.

If you are concerned about titles, then on this ASU link he's listed as "Assistant Head Coach" (OL).....http://www.thesundevils.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=30300&ATCLID=207911673

I believe that Dan McCarney had pretty much the same title at Florida.......only DL.

StealthEagle84 · November 12, 2015

Chris Thomsen and I share a common friend who told me today that he has been contacted by NT to gauge his interest, but no interview has been set up at this time. He made sure to let the university know he is interested.
The more I think about him as a possibility, he kind of reminds me of Art Briles in the route he is taking.
Please don't misunderstand my comparison, in that I think he is an Art Briles starter kit, but both have HS experience, went to college to cut their teeth as position coaches, then became college head coaches. Art has demonstrated more success over a longer career, but Thomsen has Texas ties (in the NT area), has recruited the area as a HC, and I would think has the respect of Texas HS coaches.
What might be more important, to me anyway, might be fact that he could also provide longer range stability to the program than some of the younger, more glamorous, options that are out there.

I think that Thomsen is more than qualified to be our next head coach. But this right here is what I've been thinking too. If we were to hire one of these so called young guns and they were the least bit successful, they would move on to greener pastures at first chance. I think Thomsen would stay put a little longer and invest a few more years into this program. I know some have even advocated for our program to be a stepping stone, and I understand that mentality to a point, but I don't think its in our best interest to have a revolving door of coaches every few years. From all indications, Chris Thomsen above all else is a good man. I could be wrong but I feel like if he were to get this job, there would be a much higher level of commitment back to UNT than any of the other candidates mentioned.

StealthEagle84 · November 12, 2015

One other thing that I have not seen mention of and that I think that is very important is what kind of staff will our next head coach be able to assemble. This is critical for two reasons. The obvious reason is a sound overall staff is important to winning in the near term. And two, and maybe more importantly, is building a good staff also opens the avenue to groom a predecessor.

HarringtonFishSmeller · November 12, 2015

I want to be the one to say it...NO.

If this our guy and he does get hired I will be digging this very comment up in about 3.5 years. There is not room for OL coaches to be head coaches. We can do better. With that said, for the ones that are pro Thomsen, this is so a RV hire.

He coached Texas Tech's bowl game after Tuberville left and he won. He's not an OL coach who has never been a head coach.

Eagle-96 · November 12, 2015

He is one of the best recruiters in the country. I he was willing to structure his contract in such a way to let him hire experience coordinator and a good staff, it would be a very good hire.
If we could somehow get both Norvell and Thomesen to come here... I don't know, my heart would grow three sizes?

WTF?

Oh, Oh, Oh you said heart! Carry on.

rcade · November 12, 2015

There is not room for OL coaches to be head coaches. We can do better. With that said, for the ones that are pro Thomsen, this is so a RV hire.

Why are you writing him off as just an OL coach when he was the head coach at Abilene Christian for seven years?

MeanGreenTexan · November 12, 2015

WTF?
Oh, Oh, Oh you said heart! Carry on.

Edited November 12, 2015 by MeanGreenTexan

kj86 · November 12, 2015

Don't know what kind of staff he could put together, but everything else looks quite acceptable to me.

Texas ties - check

Been a successful HC - check

P5 program experience - check

Not a lying, cheating SOB - well, not that we know of.

casual fan · November 12, 2015

Between Fritz, Withers, Barbers, or Thomsen, Thomsen should be the easiest to get here.

The first 3 might bring half their staff with them and hit the ground running.

However, Thomsen has also been a very successful head coach and knows what to do in short order.

Edited November 12, 2015 by casual fan

StealthEagle84 · November 12, 2015

The chances of Babers or Fritz leaving where they're at now and coming to Denton is slim to none in my opinion. Both are having success at the FBS level now and would be better positioned for a P5 job by continuing to win where they're at. If their desire is to be a P5 coach, coming to UNT would set them back years towards that quest. Whether you want to admit it or not, it is going to take a few years to right this ship. You don't change the numbers below overnight.

Team Stats - Through games 11/11/2015
Stat	Rank	Value
Total Offense	108	345.9
Rushing Offense	77	165.8
Passing Offense	107	180.1
Team Passing Efficiency	125	94.99
Scoring Offense	117	17.6
Total Defense	123	541.3
Rushing Defense	120	254.4
Passing Yards Allowed	117	286.9
Team Passing Efficiency Defense	124	166.28
Scoring Defense	125	45.6
Turnover Margin	T-117	-1.11
3rd Down Conversion Pct	107	0.348
4th Down Conversion Pct	44	0.571
3rd Down Conversion Pct Defense	127	0.554
4th Down Conversion Pct Defense	T-16	0.333
Red Zone Offense	120	0.720
Red Zone Defense	T-112	0.900
Net Punting	81	37.07
Punt Returns	57	8.85
Kickoff Returns	82	20.44
First Downs Offense	74	182
First Downs Defense	122	241
Fewest Penalties Per Game	T-54	5.89
Fewest Penalty Yards Per Game	55	52.67
Time of Possession	122	25:55