Rick Villarreal

[WIFE2HOT4U]

Rick Villarreal, director of athletics, has announced that Darrell Dickey will not return as head coach of the UNT football program in 2007. Dickey is expected to coach the team for its remaining three games, including Saturday’s game at Louisiana-Lafayette.

“As director of athletics, it is my job to evaluate our programs and the performance of our head coaches,” Villarreal says. “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 is concluding his ninth season at UNT where he has compiled a record of 41-62, including a 33-20 conference record. He led the Mean Green to four straight Sun Belt Conference championships and four appearances in the New Orleans Bowl from 2001-2004.

His 2005 team finished 2-9, which included six straight losses to finish the season. The Mean Green finished the 2005 season tied for last place in the Sun Belt Conference standings. He had three winning seasons in nine years at North Texas.

“UNT’s athletic director, Rick Villarreal, made an informed decision, which I support,” says President Gretchen M. Bataille. “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.”

The Mean Green has a 2-7 record through nine games this season with games remaining at Louisiana-Lafayette and Louisiana-Monroe and a home game with Florida Atlantic.

http://inhouse.unt.edu/index.cfm?commentID=1218