FW*Telegram on DD FIRING RV/new president

OldTimer · November 9, 2006

Posted on Thu, Nov. 09, 2006email thisprint thisreprint or license thisUNT fires DickeyBy TROY PHILLIPS

Star-Telegram Staff Writer

DARRELL DICKEYDENTON -- In his last two years as football coach at the University of North Texas, Darrell Dickey has seen it all. On Wednesday, less than a month after suffering a heart attack, Dickey was fired.

Athletic director Rick Villarreal, after consulting with new school President Gretchen M. Bataille, met with Dickey for a short time Wednesday afternoon and told him he wouldn't be returning as coach.

Dickey, who has three years remaining on a contract through the 2009 season, will coach UNT (2-7, 1-3 Sun Belt Conference) in its final three games this month.

"I'm very proud of what we've accomplished with this football program in my nine years here," Dickey said following the Mean Green's only practice that was closed to the media all season. "It's been an honor and a privilege to be the head football coach here. Other than that, I have no comment."

With that, Dickey turned and walked away.

In nine seasons, Dickey's teams were 41-62, with four consecutive Sun Belt titles in 2001-2004. All four years, UNT played in the New Orleans Bowl. The Mean Green won 26 consecutive conference games from 2001 to '05.

The week of the 2004 New Orleans Bowl, Dickey began feeling sick, which continued through a 2-9 season in 2005.

In February this year, he was hospitalized after a recruiting trip and had his gall bladder removed. In June, he was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. He suffered a heart attack early in the morning of Oct. 13 and missed UNT's next game at Arkansas State.

"On top of everything else, now this," UNT quarterback Daniel Meager said. "Why now?"

Villarreal said the decision was not a result of any one loss, but from an evaluation of the past two seasons.

"We just didn't feel like the program was going in the right direction," said Villarreal, who added that he and Bataille will begin a coaching search immediately. "I met with Darrell, gave him the information, and the meeting was over. He did not resign."

Dickey received a one-year contract extension in August 2005, but terms of the previous contract he signed in May 2003 were not altered.

Based on the 5 percent raise each year, Dickey's 2006 base salary was $179,431. The briefing referred to buyout provisions "ranging from $250,000 to a percentage of salary based on the time of the buyout."

All the while, Dickey and Villarreal have disagreed over numerous issues. In an interview several weeks ago, Dickey cited Villarreal's unwillingness to schedule at least one home game against a Division I-AA team as an obstacle.

He acknowledged UNT's need to schedule difficult nonconference opponents each year for financial reasons, but he questioned whether other UNT sports were held to the same standard as football.

"I think we're judged every day," he said. "The scrutiny for football here is tougher than for anybody in this department. Right or wrong, that's the way it is."

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Troy Phillips, 817-390-7760 tphillips@star-telegram.com

untbowler · November 9, 2006

"On top of everything else, now this," UNT quarterback Daniel Meager said. "Why now?"

Think Meager sees the writing on the wall without DD he will be riding the bench.

As for DD comment on the schedule this was a dream schedule this year and he blew it. Last year was not to bad either. All a I-AA does is give the team a false impression of how good they are.

FirefightnRick · November 9, 2006

Posted on Thu, Nov. 09, 2006email thisprint thisreprint or license thisUNT fires DickeyBy TROY PHILLIPS
Star-Telegram Staff Writer
DARRELL DICKEYDENTON -- In his last two years as football coach at the University of North Texas, Darrell Dickey has seen it all. On Wednesday, less than a month after suffering a heart attack, Dickey was fired.
Athletic director Rick Villarreal, after consulting with new school President Gretchen M. Bataille, met with Dickey for a short time Wednesday afternoon and told him he wouldn't be returning as coach.
Dickey, who has three years remaining on a contract through the 2009 season, will coach UNT (2-7, 1-3 Sun Belt Conference) in its final three games this month.
"I'm very proud of what we've accomplished with this football program in my nine years here," Dickey said following the Mean Green's only practice that was closed to the media all season. "It's been an honor and a privilege to be the head football coach here. Other than that, I have no comment."
With that, Dickey turned and walked away.
In nine seasons, Dickey's teams were 41-62, with four consecutive Sun Belt titles in 2001-2004. All four years, UNT played in the New Orleans Bowl. The Mean Green won 26 consecutive conference games from 2001 to '05.
The week of the 2004 New Orleans Bowl, Dickey began feeling sick, which continued through a 2-9 season in 2005.
In February this year, he was hospitalized after a recruiting trip and had his gall bladder removed. In June, he was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. He suffered a heart attack early in the morning of Oct. 13 and missed UNT's next game at Arkansas State.
"On top of everything else, now this," UNT quarterback Daniel Meager said. "Why now?"
Villarreal said the decision was not a result of any one loss, but from an evaluation of the past two seasons.
"We just didn't feel like the program was going in the right direction," said Villarreal, who added that he and Bataille will begin a coaching search immediately. "I met with Darrell, gave him the information, and the meeting was over. He did not resign."
Dickey received a one-year contract extension in August 2005, but terms of the previous contract he signed in May 2003 were not altered.
Based on the 5 percent raise each year, Dickey's 2006 base salary was $179,431. The briefing referred to buyout provisions "ranging from $250,000 to a percentage of salary based on the time of the buyout."
All the while, Dickey and Villarreal have disagreed over numerous issues. In an interview several weeks ago, Dickey cited Villarreal's unwillingness to schedule at least one home game against a Division I-AA team as an obstacle.
He acknowledged UNT's need to schedule difficult nonconference opponents each year for financial reasons, but he questioned whether other UNT sports were held to the same standard as football.
"I think we're judged every day," he said. "The scrutiny for football here is tougher than for anybody in this department. Right or wrong, that's the way it is."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Troy Phillips, 817-390-7760 tphillips@star-telegram.com
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Numerous being a key word there. He's been disgruntled since the day he stepped foot on our campus. But I don't remember reading anything about us wanting to schedule a 1-AA team? I must have missed that. But how can you complain about having Tulsa, La Tech, Akron and SMU on your OOC schedule? This isn't '99 thru '02, this was '06. RV got us one of the easiest schedules in years. But just like last year DD continued to complain to the public about it.

Amazing.

Rick

edcollopy · November 9, 2006

I understand some players may be upset and confused...but keep in mind that these are kids. Most of these players don't know the business side of sports and the way fundraising, ticket sales, merchandising, and everything else tie together.

'Why now'...because we have to search and hire a coach and let him put a staff together and then recruit.

As far as being scrutinized more than the other sports....it's America dude...Football is king (especially in Texas) and you also have to bring in more revenue since your sport costs the most!