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Dickey won't be back as UNT coach

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http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dw...y.1a03deb8.html

Dickey won't be back as UNT coach

10:04 PM CST on Wednesday, November 8, 2006

By BRETT VITO / Denton Record-Chronicle

DENTON – North Texas coach Darrell Dickey, who led the Mean Green to the Sun Belt Conference title and an appearance in the New Orleans Bowl in four straight seasons, was fired Wednesday in the midst of his second consecutive losing campaign.

Dickey's UNT teams reached their peak when they won Sun Belt titles in each season from 2001-04. UNT finished 2-9 last season and is 2-7 this year.

Dickey, who has a 41-62 record in his ninth season at UNT, will coach the remaining three games, beginning at Louisiana-Lafayette on Saturday.

"With any program you look at the end results of wins and losses," athletic director Rick Villarreal said. "The last two years we have not been performing at the level we have before. There was no indication at this point that it was going to be any better, so we decided that we needed to make a change."

Villarreal said he made the decision to fire Dickey, 46, in conjunction with university president Dr. Gretchen Bataille. They will handle the search for a coach that will begin immediately.

Villarreal said there were no plans to form a search committee.

Dickey's contact was extended through 2008 following UNT's fourth consecutive appearance in the New Orleans Bowl in 2004. UNT will pay the remainder of Dickey's base salary this season, plus the two years of base pay left on his contract – $403,432.

"I am very proud of what we have accomplished with this football program in my nine years," Dickey said. "It has been an honor and privilege to be the head football coach here."

Dickey declined to make additional comments on his tenure at UNT or his plans for the rest of the season.

Dickey, a former Kansas State quarterback, suffered a heart attack Oct. 13 that forced him to miss a game at Arkansas State on Oct. 21. It was the latest in a series of health problems that began in February when he had his gallbladder removed. He later was diagnosed with diabetes.

Villarreal said Dickey's health problems played no part in his decision to make a coaching change.

UNT's players were shocked by the news.

"I am extremely disappointed," senior wide receiver Johnny Quinn said. "Coach has always been there for me and believed in me. ... He has better things he can move on to."

Although Dickey has struggled the last two seasons, he has played a key role in UNT advancing its program. Houston businessman Jim McIngvale donated $1 million in 2004 toward the construction of the Mean Green Athletic Center, a gift he attributed to his friendship with Dickey.

Players said they were happy Dickey would remain with the team for its last three games.

"It shows a lot of character on Coach Dickey's part," linebacker Brandon Monroe said. "He wants to stay with us stick it out until the end."

NT80 Grand Master

NT80

Posted
Posted (edited)

Another version from the DRC, including UNT Prez remarks....

Football: UNT's Dickey will not return for 2007 season

04:07 PM CST on Wednesday, November 8, 2006

By Brett Vito / Staff Writer

North Texas athletic director Rick Villarreal announced Wednesday that head football coach Darrell Dickey will not return for the 2007 season.

Darrell Dickey

Dickey is expected to coach the team for its remaining three games, including Saturday at Louisiana-Lafayette.

“As Director of Athletics, it is my job to evaluate our programs and the performance of our head coaches,” Villarreal said in a statement released by the school. “I have made an informed decision to seek new leadership for our football program. We appreciate Coach Dickey’s dedication and the achievements during his tenure as head coach. It’s time for North Texas to seek a new head coach to lead our football program to a position of prominence in the Sun Belt Conference and to a more competitive position at the national level.”

Dickey led UNT to the Sun Belt Conference title and an appearance in the New Orleans Bowl in each season from 2001-04.

UNT finished 2-9 in 2005 and is 2-7 through nine games this season. The Mean Green finished the 2005 season tied for last place in the Sun Belt Conference standings. Dickey had three winning seasons in nine years at North Texas.

Dickey, who has a career record of 41-62 at UNT, suffered a heart attack last month and missed one game.

“UNT’s athletic director, Rick Villarreal, made an informed decision, which I support,” University President Dr. Gretchen Bataille said. “UNT’s athletic programs are focused on student success — not only on playing fields and in arenas, but also in our classrooms. We will continue to recruit coaches and students who are committed to winning athletically and academically.”

Edited by NT80

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