DRC: Coaching trio with regional roots gives UNT confidence in challenging times at lower levels of DI

Brett Vito · July 9, 2018

DRC: Littrell, McCasland, Mitchell seem to have found home at UNT. The question is how long school can hang on to marketable trio led by Littrell

https://www.dentonrc.com/sports/top-coaching-trio-gives-unt-confidence-it-can-make-splash/article_d9d2e408-3d42-5c06-9c8c-860bc44b414e.html

edcollopy · July 9, 2018

Great piece Brett!

Harry · July 9, 2018

This quote is striking:

“UNT hadn’t seen all three of its high-profile programs finish over .500 in the same year since 1977-78.”

I’ve been preaching this to anyone who would listen for years now. Especially pertaining to football, where under Mac and Dodge we had about a decade with only one winning football season (2013).

One of our biggest selling points as a University is our size and breadth of quality academic programs. Simply put we have great numbers of alumni. Most of which have grown accustomed to the reality of UNT underperforming in athletics. We have more potential in our sheer number of alumni than say an SMU or Tulsa will ever have.

It seems like we may finally be hitting on all cylinders in terms of our coaching hires and support from the administration and Board of Regents.

Consistent winning will lead to building support and engagement from our vast alumni base. The recent recruiting successes are another indicator of the trend upward. It is imperative that we continue down this path.

Hunter Green · July 9, 2018

Interesting that Littrell and Mitchell are RV hires.

UNTLifer · July 9, 2018

Littrell was hired under RV's watch, but I think it was pretty well known that he wasn't RV's choice.

NorthTexan95 · July 9, 2018

1 minute ago, UNTLifer said:

Littrell was hired under RV's watch, but I think it was pretty well known that he wasn't RV's choice.

I don't know if we can say that Littrell wasn't RV's choice but we can say that RV didn't make that final decision.

MGNation92 · July 9, 2018

I think we all know who RV's final choice was....

FirefightnRick · July 9, 2018

2 hours ago, Hunter Green said:

Interesting that Littrell and Mitchell are RV hires.

RV DID NOT hire Littrell.

Rick

drex · July 9, 2018

You can always count on Brett V to rain on a parade.

UNTLifer · July 9, 2018

4 hours ago, MGNation92 said:

I think we all know who RV's final choice was....

Hey Kool-Aid!

UNT 90 Grad · July 10, 2018

7 hours ago, MGNation92 said:

I think we all know who RV's final choice was....

There will be no bargain, young Jedi. I shall enjoy watching you die.

akriesman · July 10, 2018

The coaches have been great. But, the job Wren has done has been just as fantastic. He is just as important to us, if not more, than the coaches IMO. He is spot on about having the right infrastructure in place. Boise State has gone through 4 coaches in the last 20 years and has never skipped a beat (18 bowls in 19 years). A program can tolerate a coaching loss if they have a next guy up mentality and a plan in place.

Edited July 10, 2018 by akriesman

UNTLifer · July 10, 2018

“Our president, administration and athletic director are unbelievable,” Littrell said. “People think it’s common for that relationship to be there between the president, athletic director, board of regents and coaches. It’s not. A lot places it’s dysfunctional. It’s very functional here. That’s why we are able to have success.”

Love this quote.

Venson · July 11, 2018

I think President Smatresk is the real reason for the success. When he arrived at UNT he wanted to raise the level of athletics. He gave RV a chance and when he didn't perform, he replaced him. Although Littrell was hired under RV I am convinced that it was more Smatresk's choice than RV. Before him, I do not believe any of the Presidents cared anything about athletics. I think they probably viewed it as something you need to have just to keep students here who would choose to go somewhere else if you didn't have sports. The faculty and student body never bought in because the past Presidents didn't make it a priority. Smatresk made it a priority and it is starting to show in the faculty and student body. He excused students from class the Friday before the UTSA game just to convince them to go. They had to take a picture of themselves inside the stadium with the scoreboard in the background or both teams on the field in the background and submit it to their instructors for the excuse to be legitimate. That may seem trivial, but it is small things like that, that will get the apathetic students to buy in.