Matthews A Candidate At North Texas?

mgsteve · November 16, 2006

Matthews A Candidate At North Texas? Posted 2006-11-16

By Mike Barber

HARRISONBURG – Mickey Matthews is being mentioned in the media as a candidate for the vacant coaching job at North Texas, but James Madison football fans can rest easy – at least for now.

While not ruling out a move to his native state, Matthews said Wednesday he is not pursuing the job.

“If you’re losing, they can’t wait to fire you; and if you’re winning, they can’t wait to get you another job,” Matthews, who is in his eighth season as JMU’s coach, said with a laugh Wednesday at Bridgeforth Stadium. “I’m not looking for another job, let’s put it that way.”

North Texas, a Division I-A program in the Sun Belt conference, fired coach Darrell Dickey last week, although he will coach the rest of the season. North Texas is 3-7. Dickey, a longtime friend of Matthews, is 42-62 in nine seasons with the Mean Green. He was diagnosed with diabetes near the start of the season and suffered a heart attack on Oct. 12.

Matthews said he was aware of the opening but hadn’t thought of himself as a candidate.

JMU athletic director Jeff Bourne said Wednesday that he had not been contacted by anyone at North Texas seeking permission to speak with Matthews, who guided the Dukes to the Division I-AA championship in 2004.

Rick Villarreal, the North Texas athletic director, did not return a phone call Wednesday.

North Texas is located in Denton, near Dallas. Matthews’ wife, Kaye, is from nearby Irvington, and Matthews is from Andrews, located in western Texas. He graduated from West Texas State in 1976 and has coached there, Texas Christian, Houston and Texas-El Paso, in addition to Marshall, Georgia and – for three months before taking the JMU post – Baylor.

Wednesday, Matthews noted that – since both his parents are deceased – he doesn’t have the ties to Texas he once had.

“I haven’t lived in Texas now 16 years,” Matthews said. “All of my friends in Texas think I sound like I’m from Boston now.”

Still, Matthews did not rule out looking at the North Texas job – after the season.

“You’re always interested in what’s out there,” the 53-year-old Matthews said. “It’s not like I’m 40 years old and want to be the head coach of the Chicago Bears. We’re very happy here. It would take a really good opportunity for us to leave.”

Matthews is 55-39 at JMU and has the Dukes (8-2 overall, 6-1 in the Atlantic 10) poised for a playoff berth. If Madison beats Towson in the regular-season finale Saturday, the Dukes probably would secure an at-large berth Sunday. Even if it loses, Madison would probably remain in contention for a bid.

After winning the I-AA national championship in 2004, Matthews signed a new, five-year contract worth $190,500 annually.

Bourne said there is no buyout clause in Matthews’ contract – he is free to leave JMU as long as he does so between the end of football season and March 1 and provides the school with 30 days notice.

Matthews has known Dickey since becoming a part-time assistant coach at Kansas State in 1978 for Dickey’s father, Jim.

“When I took that job, I had no money, so Coach Dickey gave me a bedroom for six months,” Matthews said. “Darrell was still a senior in high school, so I’ve known Darrell all his life.”

UTEP defensive coordinator Eric Price, the son of Miners coach and former Washington State coach Mike Price, told the Denton Record-Chronicle that he was interested in the North Texas job.

Texas Tech offensive coordinator Sonny Dykes and TCU offensive coordinator Mike Schultz have had their names mentioned by newspapers in Texas as prospective candidates.

pollock · November 16, 2006

Matthews has known Dickey since becoming a part-time assistant coach at Kansas State in 1978 for Dickey’s father, Jim.
“When I took that job, I had no money, so Coach Dickey gave me a bedroom for six months,” Matthews said. “Darrell was still a senior in high school, so I’ve known Darrell all his life.”

So do you think DD would let him crash on the couch if he came to Denton for an interview?