Too early for UNT to start narrowing

Harry · November 29, 2006

Too early for UNT to start narrowing down search for coach

By TROY PHILLIPS

Star-Telegram Staff Writer

North Texas remains in the process of identifying potential candidates to fill its soon-to-be vacant job of head football coach.

Athletic director Rick Villarreal said Monday that response to the UNT job has been good, and that "a number of inquiries" are arriving daily.

"There's stuff in my office I haven't picked up yet," Villarreal said. "We're gathering information on those people interested in us, and those we're interested in. Once we've done that, we'll evaluate our options."

No timetable is set for interviews, but Villarreal wants to get going as soon as possible with recruiting season under way.

UNT, which started the season 2-7, fired coach Darrell Dickey Wednesday, effective at the end of the season. The Mean Green won at Louisiana-Lafayette on Saturday to go to 3-7.

On Monday, Texas Tech co-offensive coordinator Sonny Dykes, believed to be someone UNT could target, said he has not heard from UNT.

Dykes, a final-three candidate last year for the Rice job, removed his name from consideration before Tech's game against Alabama in the AT&T Cotton Bowl. Dykes did so after waiting at least a week to hear from Rice officials on their decision.

Dykes, 37, said he's happy at Tech but still wants to become a head coach at some point. He added that UNT's location and recruiting base in Dallas-Fort Worth makes the job desirable, but with any job opening comes questions.

"They have to play a couple of money games every year, but you don't want to play four or five," Dykes said of the "guarantee" games UNT plays against teams such as Texas or Oklahoma. "You have to find out how much control you have over the schedule. From the outside, it might be a pretty good opportunity for somebody."

Dykes said he has "heard talk" about UNT wanting to ramp up its commitment to football, in addition to the recent construction of the school's $8 million athletic complex/dormitories and practice fields.

"The worst things is to go somewhere and have no opportunity to win," Dykes said, speaking in generalities. "That doesn't get you anywhere. You want to make sure you have a chance to put a stamp on the program."

TCU offensive coordinator Mike Schultz and Carroll High School coach Todd Dodge remain two potential targets for Villarreal. Schultz, 48, also a Rice finalist last year, has had no comment on the UNT job.

Dodge, 43, is a former UNT assistant (1992-93) and oversees one of the state's most explosive high school offenses at 552.2 yards per game.

Carroll is favored to win its fourth state title in five years. Dodge has coached his son, Riley, at quarterback for the past two seasons. Riley will be a senior next year, but Todd Dodge said that wouldn't keep him from leaving Carroll for the right college opportunity.

good_ken · November 29, 2006

I could have swore that this article is from about a week and a half ago.

I thought I remember reading the following in a previous article:

"There's stuff in my office I haven't picked up yet," Villarreal said. "We're gathering information on those people interested in us, and those we're interested in. Once we've done that, we'll evaluate our options."

The "Wednesday" reference makes me think this was from the week right after we liberated ourselves from DD:

UNT, which started the season 2-7, fired coach Darrell Dickey Wednesday, effective at the end of the season. The Mean Green won at Louisiana-Lafayette on Saturday to go to 3-7.

the green rokemi · November 29, 2006

I think it is old too...

PlummMeanGreen · November 29, 2006

"They have to play a couple of money games every year, but you don't want to play four or five," Dykes said of the "guarantee" games UNT plays against teams such as Texas or Oklahoma. "You have to find out how much control you have over the schedule. From the outside, it might be a pretty good opportunity for somebody."
...................................................
Seems most of our OOC schedule the last 9 years have been money games (at least to look at many of their results one would think such)?
How much did we bring home $ from that big Akron game?

Edited November 29, 2006 by PlummMeanGreen