Dickey promotes Dunston to TE coach

MeanGreen61 · February 21, 2006

Check out who Dunson is related to

Football: Dickey promotes Dunson to tight ends coach

08:41 AM CST on Tuesday, February 21, 2006

Bt Brett Vito / Staff Writer

Thomas Dunson made an impression on North Texas coach Darrell Dickey the last two seasons with endless energy that had the graduate assistant coach running up and down the practice field not only instructing players, but trying to elicit energy and effort as well.

It was that enthusiasm and the impact Dunson made that convinced Dickey to promote the former LSU linebacker to a fulltime possession as the Mean Green’s tight ends coach. Dunson has been working with UNT’s tight ends during spring practice for the last week and began adapting to his new role as a fulltime assistant on Monday.

Dunson, 27, replaced Duke Atterberry, who left UNT’s staff after two seasons.

“I am beaming with excitement and a willingness to get everything rolling,” Dunson said. “Fortunately coach Dickey saw something in me and wanted to see if I could do it fulltime.”

The addition of Dunson is just the first of a few adjustments Dickey made to his staff Monday.

Former UNT linebacker Chris Hurd will take the spot Dunson vacated as the Mean Green’s graduate assistant on defense. Dickey plans on brining former UNT offensive lineman Andy Brewster back either this semester or in the fall to serve as the Mean Green’s graduate assistant coach on offense.

UNT still has an opening for a running backs coach that Dickey said he expects to fill in the next few days.

Hurd and Brewster are two of the greatest players of the Dickey era. Hurd was the Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2003, while Brewster was a four-year starter and a two time first-team All-Sun Belt selection.

Dunson gained Dickey’s confidence while serving in the same G.A. role Hurd and Brewster will fill next season. Coaches can work as graduate assistants for two years, a term Dunson had already used while working with UNT’s defense and special teams.

“Thomas has done tremendous work here for two years,” Dickey said. “We were about to lose him and I didn’t want that to happen. We had a position that I thought he was very capable of coaching.”

Dunson’s recent history as a player at LSU was also an enticement for Dickey, who has yet to decide where his newest coach’s recruiting territory will be.

Dunson played at Klein Oak High School in Spring before continuing his career at LSU. Dunson coached at University High in Baton Rouge, La., during the 2002 season before accepting a G.A. position at UNT.

Despite spending most of his playing and coaching career on the defensive side of the ball, Dunson is confident he can adapt to coaching the Mean Green’s tight ends.

“I was a defensive guy in college, but I am a football guy at heart,” Dunson said. “No matter if it is offense, defense or left out, I am going to do it to the best way I can.”

Dunson said his experience playing and coaching on defense will help him coach tight ends, who he hopes to teach to be aggressive and intense while clearing the way for running backs in UNT’s ground-based offense. As a former linebacker and defensive coach, Dunson will know just what his players will face from opposing defenses next season.

The Mean Green will return several experienced players for Dunson to work with in the fall, including seniors Beau Davidson and Robert Harmon and sophomore Charles Brown. UNT also added Brian Carlson, who transferred to UNT from Kilgore College at the semester break.

Dunson said he will emphasize energy and effort, values he learned from Jim McIngvale, his uncle who was a linebacker at UNT before becoming a highly successful businessman in Houston. McIngvale owns Gallery Furniture and gave UNT $1 million toward the construction of the Mean Green Athletic Center.

Dunson worked at McIngvale’s store during high school.

“What I told the players is that I know the Xs and Os backward and forward and they will come to everyone,” Dunson said. “What I want to focus on is energy, effort and focus. If we bring those three things to practice every day, we will get better and better.”

Edited February 21, 2006 by MeanGreen61

Stan R · February 21, 2006

. “Fortunately coach Dickey saw something in me and wanted to see if I could do it fulltime.”
McIngvale owns Gallery Furniture and gave UNT $1 million toward the construction of the Mean Green Athletic Center.
Dunson worked at McIngvale’s store during high school.
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ding ding ding!! I've summarized the only three important parts of this post.

bigrobdsp · February 21, 2006

I had some drinks with Dunson the other night. he seemed very excited to get going as the new TE coach. I would have posted earlier but he said that since it was not official yet he would perfer that I kept it quiet. hopefully he can use his Houston and LA ties to our advantage.

pollock · February 21, 2006

Ahh, a little nepotizz...

But hey, he's been with the program for a while. Sounds like a good choice.

mad dog · February 21, 2006

Ahh, a little nepotizz...
But hey, he's been with the program for a while. Sounds like a good choice.
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Yeah, a little nepotism. But you're certainly right, it wasn't as though they just hired the guy off a couch somewhere. I think there's a lot to be said about a young guy with a lot of energy and enthusiasm out there coaching. It isn't for everyone, and I personally would rather have an overall more reserved coaching staff, but a little of that can be a good thing.

SilverEagle · February 21, 2006

Yeah, a little nepotism. But you're certainly right, it wasn't as though they just hired the guy off a couch somewhere. I think there's a lot to be said about a young guy with a lot of energy and enthusiasm out there coaching. It isn't for everyone, and I personally would rather have an overall more reserved coaching staff, but a little of that can be a good thing.
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Not me. I'm tired of the "12 volt" coaching system that we've had for so long. I'm ready for most of the coaches to be wired for "220".

pollock · February 21, 2006

Not me. I'm tired of the "12 volt" coaching system that we've had for so long. I'm ready for most of the coaches to be wired for "220".
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220, 221.... whatever it takes

Green Lantern · February 21, 2006

220, 221.... whatever it takes
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Excellent Keaton reference ...very underrated.

emmitt01 · February 21, 2006

I absolutely LOVE this board. The guy is related to Jim McIngvale and that's the part everyone wants to key in on.

Conspiracy alert!!! Where's Plumm when you need him?

adman · February 22, 2006

I absolutely LOVE this board. The guy is related to Jim McIngvale and that's the part everyone wants to key in on.
Conspiracy alert!!! Where's Plumm when you need him?
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Playing golf with Bobby Ray?

Baby Arm! · February 22, 2006

I absolutely LOVE this board. The guy is related to Jim McIngvale and that's the part everyone wants to key in on.
Conspiracy alert!!! Where's Plumm when you need him?
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Be careful what you ask for Emmitt, I'm sure we'll see this little nugget ad nausem over then next few months as Plumm adds it to his conspiracy ladden thread-hijacks.

Stan R · February 22, 2006

I absolutely LOVE this board. The guy is related to Jim McIngvale and that's the part everyone wants to key in on.
Conspiracy alert!!! Where's Plumm when you need him?
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Hey, nothing is wrong with a little "you scratch my back I give you a million dollars" is there?

UNTLifer · February 22, 2006

Coaching has historically been a "good ol' boys network." This isn't the first time something like this has happened and it won't be the last. I like his attitude and am curious to see how that translates to the players.