Breaking: North Texas Makes Skyler Cassity Hiring Official

GMG_Dallas · December 4

7 hours ago, meaniegreenie said:

You're solution seems to suggest the correct approach would have been to hire HALF of a successful coaching pair or hire TWO coaches.

Just like this hire has risks of being successful, taking the risk on hiring part of a co-DC seems risky as well.

Always risky no matter what. What I do know is their teams held up against p4 competition multiple times this year despite being massively underfunded and outspent.

Edited December 4 by GMG_Dallas

UNTcrazy727 · December 4

18 hours ago, Meangreen Fight said:

Very sensible questions. The reactions your post are kind of ridiculous. 🤷🏽‍♂️

He might be great. I was just saying it surprising considering Morris has to win next year and his first young hire didn't work out. Not sure why that's a ridiculous thing to say.

I forgot it's the Mean Green way for any new coach is to be overly praised until the first sign of struggle. Then we turn on them and call them alcoholics and demand they be fired.

MeanGreenTexan · December 4

The early signing window is open now through Friday. I expect a lot of the offensive dudes we have committed to sign, but I'll be interested to see who signs during this window defensively. Can Cassity bring in some of his favorite guys he had committed to SHSU? I'd be interested in THIS GUY.

Then, the transfer portal opens up next Monday.
How many of his current guys will jump in and follow him here?
I'd be very interested in THIS GUY coming back closer to home.
Also THIS GUY, THIS GUY, THIS GUY, & THIS GUY

MeanGreenGlory · December 4

1 hour ago, GMG_Dallas said:

I think all of this is valid. The issue with Cassity is there's no year 2 at Sam Houston to evaluate. That’s not his fault, his coach was hired away. Did he progress throughout the season or did his competition get drastically worst? Well, it did. Hard to evaluate a defense against what he faced. I just don't see why once again, we have to be the ones to take a risk on a relatively unknown.

Regarding Liberty beating ECU, that was at the start of the year. We played ECU with a new QB and different coach. ECU was putting up numbers when we played them (28 vs Army, 56 vs Temple, 49 vs FAU, 38 vs Tulsa, 40 vs us, 20 vs Navy all after the change). Liberty otherwise played nobody this year. No p4, no tough competition out of conference, and even in a weak conference, they didn't do well.

Like you said, all is not an apples-to-apples comparison. This hire just seems like a huge overreaction to a decent first year coordinating in a horrible conference. Tired of taking flyers on guys. We needed somebody experienced to right the ship.

I don't disagree with you.

Historically, I've preferred to bring in experienced people who have demonstrated sustained success at our level.

That said, it's not black and white, and a track record of success doesn't guarantee success.

Look at Tom Herman, for example. The guy goes 22-4 at Houston and then 32-18 at Texas. He should have been a guaranteed success at his next stop, right? Instead, he goes 6-16 at FAU, which has been a respectably competitive program in revenue sports over the last handful of years. What happened?

Hugh Freeze went 20-5 at Lambuth, followed by 10-2 at Arkansas State. He should have been a success at his next stop, but instead, he went 12-25 at Ole Miss. People thought he was overrated and a fraud. He turned around and went 34-15 at Liberty before being poached by Auburn, where he's now 11-14. What happened?

Scott Frost went 19-7 at UCF and then completely flopped as head coach at his own alma mater.

Gus Malzahn went 9-3 at Arkansas State followed by 68-35 at Auburn. The guy should have been able to blow out anyone in a non-SEC conference, right? Instead, he barely squeeks out an above .500 record at UCF.

All this to say, for every "successful and proven" coach that flops at their next stop there's an up-and-coming coach who absolutely thrives in their next stop at an elevated position (coordinator, HC, etc.). There are so many factors that contribute to a coach's success at any given stop, so predicting success solely on past performance isn't a perfect science.

The truth of the matter for every coach at any position is that you just don't know how they'll perform until you know.

Until we know for sure, let's give Cassity the benefit of the doubt and the support he deserves to succeed at UNT.

MeanGreenGlory · December 4

1 hour ago, MeanGreenTexan said:

The early signing window is open now through Friday. I expect a lot of the offensive dudes we have committed to sign, but I'll be interested to see who signs during this window defensively. Can Cassity bring in some of his favorite guys he had committed to SHSU? I'd be interested in THIS GUY.

Then, the transfer portal opens up next Monday.
How many of his current guys will jump in and follow him here?
I'd be very interested in THIS GUY coming back closer to home.
Also THIS GUY, THIS GUY, THIS GUY, & THIS GUY

Yes to all of these guys—particularly the ones who have already learned Cassity's system and have produced in it. Bringing a handful of those guys over would help shorten the turnaround time significantly.

GMG_Dallas · December 4

8 minutes ago, MeanGreenGlory said:

I don't disagree with you.

Historically, I've preferred to bring in experienced people who have demonstrated sustained success at our level.

That said, it's not black and white, and a track record of success doesn't guarantee success.

Look at Tom Herman, for example. The guy goes 22-4 at Houston and then 32-18 at Texas. He should have been a guaranteed success at his next stop, right? Instead, he goes 6-16 at FAU, which has been a respectably competitive program in revenue sports over the last handful of years. What happened?

Hugh Freeze went 20-5 at Lambuth, followed by 10-2 at Arkansas State. He should have been a success at his next stop, but instead, he went 12-25 at Ole Miss. People thought he was overrated and a fraud. He turned around and went 34-15 at Liberty before being poached by Auburn, where he's now 11-14. What happened?

Scott Frost went 19-7 at UCF and then completely flopped as head coach at his own alma mater.

Gus Malzahn went 9-3 at Arkansas State followed by 68-35 at Auburn. The guy should have been able to blow out anyone in a non-SEC conference, right? Instead, he barely squeeks out an above .500 record at UCF.

All this to say, for every "successful and proven" coach that flops at their next stop there's an up-and-coming coach who absolutely thrives in their next stop at an elevated position (coordinator, HC, etc.). There are so many factors that contribute to a coach's success at any given stop, so predicting success solely on past performance isn't a perfect science.

The truth of the matter for every coach at any position is that you just don't know how they'll perform until you know.

Until we know for sure, let's give Cassity the benefit of the doubt and the support he deserves to succeed at UNT.

100% agree with all of this. Really no way of knowing how things will turn out.

About FAU really quick, Herman made the most questionable DC hire when he chose Bellantoni. That guy's only other DC experience was at FAU from 14-16 when they went 3-9 three straight years. His defense was horrible then and horrible this time around. Makes me wonder if DC is the single most important coaching hire a new HC can make.

UNTLifer · December 4

3 hours ago, p_phelps said:

Show me your doctorate and I'll show you mine

GMG was referencing his defenses at ACU in '22-'23 and you posted stats from this year. Hmmm.

DentonLurker · December 4

13 minutes ago, GMG_Dallas said:

Makes me wonder if DC is the single most important coaching hire a new HC can make.

It definitely is when your head coach comes up through the offensive ranks. I would argue the opposite if the head coach came up from the defensive side.

El Paso Eagle · December 4

For coordinators, there always seems to be the debate over experience vs. "up-and-coming," and we can only hope this is the right move for the program at this time.

PS - The two position coaches I would prefer always to see a lot of experience - O-Line and D-Line, but especially O-line.

Green Otaku · December 4

Can we just ask that people be reasonable and not drink the kool-aid when signings and transfers start coming in?

Just take a measured approach and see how things go next year, you'll save yourself the disappointment.

Udomann · December 4

2 minutes ago, Green Otaku said:

Can we just ask that people be reasonable and not drink the kool-aid when signings and transfers start coming in?

Just take a measured approach and see how things go next year, you'll save yourself the disappointment.

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As a UNT football fan, we are either 1 step away from CFP or headed to FCS. There is no in-between.

UNTLifer · December 4

7 minutes ago, Udomann said:

As a UNT football fan, we are either 1 step away from CFP or headed to FCS. There is no in-between.

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Green Otaku · December 4

14 minutes ago, Udomann said:

As a UNT football fan, we are either 1 step away from CFP or headed to FCS. There is no in-between.

Tommy Gadberry · December 4

I live this hire. He will need to replace some of the assistants under him now. Contracts run annually so expect to see them soon.

BillySee58 · December 4

4 hours ago, UNTcrazy727 said:

He might be great. I was just saying it surprising considering Morris has to win next year and his first young hire didn't work out. Not sure why that's a ridiculous thing to say.

I forgot it's the Mean Green way for any new coach is to be overly praised until the first sign of struggle. Then we turn on them and call them alcoholics and demand they be fired.

I think your points are good but it just seems reductive to lump Cassity with Caponi because they are young. And I get the broader point is experience more so than age, but in addition to 3 years of DC playcalling duties compared to none for Caponi coming here, Cassity just led a one-year turnaround that is exactly the kind we are hoping for. That’s the kind of urgency I want Morris to show right now.

Coffee and TV · December 4

6 hours ago, p_phelps said:

Show me your doctorate and I'll show you mine

You'd think a PhD would teach someone how to admit they fcked up their research, but alas...

TheReal_jayD · December 4

DENTON – UNT Football head coach Eric Morris named Skyler Cassity as the program’s next defensive coordinator Wednesday. Cassity comes to UNT after spending the 2024 season in the same role at Sam Houston, guiding the Bearkats to the No. 20 national rank in total defense this season.

An up-and-coming star in the coaching ranks, Cassity led a Sam Houston pass defense that ranked 11th in the country while forcing 22 turnovers, the 16th-most in FBS in 2024. The Bearkats were also one of only four Group of Five teams to give up 20.0 points per game or less this season.

“We are excited to have Coach Cassity join our staff,” Morris said. “He’s one of the best young defensive minds in college football. He is someone that I have watched for a while, and I look forward to him leading our defense to the next level.”

“First of all, I am excited to be joining the North Texas family,” Cassity said. “Similar to Coach Morris, I am happy to be able to stay in Texas and join such a great program. This program instills character, discipline and toughness into its team. I have extremely high expectations for our new defensive unit, and I believe this is the right place to achieve those goals. I look forward to competing for championships, and I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t believe Coach Morris was the guy to lead us in that direction. My work has already started, and I look forward to meeting and getting to know everyone in the Mean Green family. I want to thank my wife, Kori, for her unbelievable support through the whole process. Texas is home for the both of us, and we are excited for all that we will be able to achieve here at North Texas. Thank you and Go Mean Green!”

Upon arrival at Sam Houston, Cassity inherited a 3-9 defense which he immediately turned into a 9-3 team for 2024. The program became bowl eligible for the first time, narrowly missing out on a berth in the Conference USA (CUSA) championship game.

Cassity quickly upgraded Sam Houston’s defense in his one year. The Bearkats’ scoring defense ranked 64th in FBS in 2023 and jumped to the No. 21 scoring defense in 2024. In addition, Sam Houston improved from 88th to 20th in total defense, 92nd to 56th in rushing defense and 77th to 11th in passing defense.

The Bearkats dominated nationally in FBS including ranking eighth in possession stop rate at 73.8%, in redzone defense and fourth-down defense — also ranking 21st in scoring defense and 20th in total defense. In CUSA, Cassity’s defense was top five in every category including first in scoring defense, passing defense, passing defensive efficiency, redzone defense and interceptions.

In 2024, the Sam Houston defense held seven of its 12 opponents under its season scoring average and held nine to 21 points or less. The Bearkats were even stronger defensively down the stretch, allowing just 13.2 points per game over the final five contests.

Prior to Sam Houston, Cassity spent two seasons, 2022-23, as Abilene Christian’s defensive coordinator. In 2023, two major publications highlighted Cassity’s success and bright future: 247 Sports named him to its “30 Under 30” list as did Dave Campbell’s Texas Football “40 Under 40.”

No stranger to the state of Texas, Cassity also served as a graduate assistant at both Texas Tech (2018-19) and Texas State (2017) prior to his time at ACU.

At ACU, he helped the Wildcats post a dozen wins in two seasons, its most in a two-year period since the program moved to Division I. While there he coached four all-conference selections, his defense held 14 of its 19 FCS opponents under their season scoring averages and was a top 35 Massey-rated defense each year.

In 2022, he helped lead the Wildcats to a 7-4 record, the best for the program since it left the Division II ranks. That season his defense was proclaimed as the top in ACU's history and was near the top of the Western Athletic Conference in multiple statistical categories, ranking second in the league in rushing defense, scoring defense and total defense. Additionally, the Wildcats ranked in the top 20 of the FCS in third-down defense, first downs allowed and rushing.

A year later he helped lead Abilene Christian to five more victories while his defensive unit ranked second in the newly formed United Athletic Conference and 23rd in the FCS with 12 interceptions. The Wildcats also ranked 29th in the FCS in defensive touchdowns and 27th in fourth-down defense.

Cassity’s stint at ACU came after spending two seasons coaching outside linebackers, nickels and safeties under head coach Bobby Petrino at Missouri State. The Bears' defense finished the 2021 season ranked sixth nationally in turnovers forced, 11th in interceptions and 11th in defensive touchdowns while making their second consecutive appearance in the FCS Playoffs, snapping a 30-year playoff drought for the program.

While working on his master’s degree in sports management at Texas Tech, Cassity was an outside linebackers analyst and defensive graduate assistant for the Red Raiders’ 2017 and 2019 seasons under then-head coach Kliff Kingsbury, plus the 2019 season under then-head coach Matt Wells.

For the 2016 season, Cassity coached at Texas State as the primary defensive graduate assistant under then-head coach Everett Withers. The Bobcats boasted the 2017 top recruiting class in the Sun Belt Conference.

Cassity attended Auburn University for his undergrad degree from 2012-16, earning his business administration degree in 2016. He played lacrosse while also growing his football coaching and recruiting experience in the Southeastern Conference with the Tigers’ football team thanks to then-head coach Gus Malzahn and Casey Woods hiring him in February of 2014.

While in high school at Riverwood International Charter School, Atlanta, Cassity was a quarterback for the Raiders under then-head coach Robert Ingram, Cassity’s football playing career was cut short in 2010 due to career-ending chest surgery to correct his pectus excavatum via the Nuss Procedure. Ingram, still a mentor today, immediately elevated the young Cassity to a student assistant thus kicking off his coaching career.

He brings along plenty of football pedigree as well, growing up as the son of longtime college coach Mike Cassity, who lettered for Kentucky football and wrestling (1971-76), spent 40 years on the sidelines including 22 years as a defensive coordinator at the Division I level at Louisville, Illinois, Oklahoma State, Baylor, Cincinnati, Georgia Tech, East Carolina, ULM and Western Kentucky.

A football family, Cassity has two brothers who played college football as Hunter, played safety at Samford and Braden was a fullback at Oklahoma State.

Cassity is married to nee Kori Peek, who grew up in Lubbock. The couple met while both attending Texas Tech.

Coaching History

2014-16: Auburn, student assistant

2016: Texas State, graduate assistant

2017-19: Texas Tech, graduate assistant

2020-21: Missouri State, linebackers/nickels/safeties

2022-23: Abilene Christian, defensive coordinator

2024: Sam Houston, defensive coordinator

2024-: UNT, defensive coordinator

Greenrex · December 4

I have a doctorate too but you won't ever hear me mention it.

97and03 · December 4

6 hours ago, MeanGreenTexan said:

The early signing window is open now through Friday. I expect a lot of the offensive dudes we have committed to sign, but I'll be interested to see who signs during this window defensively. Can Cassity bring in some of his favorite guys he had committed to SHSU? I'd be interested in THIS GUY.

Then, the transfer portal opens up next Monday.
How many of his current guys will jump in and follow him here?
I'd be very interested in THIS GUY coming back closer to home.
Also THIS GUY, THIS GUY, THIS GUY, & THIS GUY

Meangreen Fight · December 4

21 hours ago, TheReal_jayD said:

He can’t answer that.

The 4-2-5 will help in a number of ways, mainly recruiting. But simplifying will held the most, I felt caponi defense was way two complex and always 1-3 guys confused and several players were thinking to much and not allowing to cut loose

I definitely agree with this. I just have never like odd fronts at the college level without a versatile monster in the front 7. Like Saban running his 3-4 could always count on having in conjunction with big strong guys in the front 3 occupying gaps. I still would have preferred a guy with a little more experience. And what they said about how he coached the secondary was promising. Guys that can at least tackle on the receiver catches the ball and reduce the number of TD passes thrown when they let them inside the 30 would be a huge improvement.