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Posted on Wed, Dec. 13, 2006 Dodge introduced as coach By TROY PHILLIPS

Star-Telegram Staff Writer

Mack Brown

More photosDENTON -- The North Texas fight song blared over a public-address system as the guest of honor arrived, greeted by claps, whoops and hollers of about 150 Mean Green fans and boosters.

No doubt about it: Todd Dodge was a wanted man.

Dodge, 43, the wildly successful coach at Carroll High School, formally accepted the job as UNT's new head football coach during a Tuesday night news conference that felt like a pep rally.

With wife Elizabeth, son and Carroll quarterback Riley, and daughter Molly in the front row, Dodge talked about the two years he spent in college coaching as a UNT assistant in 1992 and '93, how right this latest opportunity felt and his determination to return winning college football to Denton.

Dodge, who 13 years ago worked under the last high school coach hired by UNT, Dennis Parker, emerged as the leader from roughly five serious candidates for the job. UNT fired Darrell Dickey on Nov. 8 during his ninth season.

"I hope you'll all jump aboard," Dodge said, addressing the fans and boosters. "It'll be an exciting brand of football, and it's something we'll do together. I want to create a tremendous college [football] atmosphere in this town."

UNT athletic director Rick Villarreal said Dodge officially begins work after Dec. 23, provided Carroll advances to that day's Class 5A Division I state championship. The Dragons (14-0), winners of 46 consecutive games, face Allen in Saturday's state semifinals.

Dodge said his first priority is getting at least some staff in place to start recruiting while he finishes his "journey" with Carroll and his son.

In mid-news conference, Dodge was informed by Villarreal that he couldn't serve as a head coach in the U.S. Army All-America national high school all-star game on Jan. 6, which is against NCAA rules for contracted college coaches.

"I hope I can," Dodge said when asked, before Villarreal jumped in.

That issue settled, Dodge talked about leaving his Carroll team, especially its 58 seniors. In seven years under Dodge, the Dragons are 96-11 with three state titles.

"I'll be a dad in the dad role with Southlake Carroll after this," Dodge said. It's about keeping our [team] family together, and we will be together until this ends."

Dodge hugged and kissed Riley, Elizabeth and Molly after answering questions from the dais and then faced a two-deep row of TV cameras.

"I've known for a while," Riley said of his dad's impending move. "I'm so proud of him. This is a long time coming, and now he's ready to show what he can do."

Riley, a junior, said not playing under his father, whoever is Carroll's next coach, might better prepare him for college in some ways. He declined to "speculate" on a possible college destination in 2008.

"I'm sad in some ways, happy in others," Riley said. "I saw signs that guys were sad [when they were told], especially the juniors and my friends who would have him next year."

Dodge didn't discuss potential assistant hires, but Haltom head coach Clayton George, a UNT receiver from 1990-93 and former Carroll coordinator, is expected to join the staff as an offensive assistant. Dodge met with about 30 UNT players after being introduced.

"We've got a lot of learning to do this spring," quarterback Matt Phillips said. "I'm going to go watch their state championship and get a first look at his [spread] offense. I'm excited to get going."

A new start at UNT

TODD DODGE'S COACHING RECORD

Year School W-L

1994 Cameron Yoe 3-7

1995 Cameron Yoe 5-5

1996 Carr. Newman Smith 4-6

1997 Carr. Newman Smith 5-5

1998 Fossil Ridge 2-7

1999 Fossil Ridge 5-5

2000 Carroll 9-5

2001 Carroll 10-5

2002 Carroll* 16-0

2003 Carroll 15-1

2004 Carroll* 16-0

2005 Carroll* 16-0

2006 Carroll** 14-0

*5A Division II state champions **team is still in playoffs

UNT COACHING HISTORY

Coach Years W-L-T

J.W. Pender 1913-14 3-4-0

J.W. St. Clair 1915-19 20-10-3

Theron Fouts 1920-24 23-14-2

John Reid 1925-28 16-18-3

Jack Sisco 1929-41 74-37-10

Lloyd Russell 1942 3-5-0

Odus Mitchell 1946-66 122-85-9

Rod Rust 1967-72 29-32-1

Hayden Fry 1973-78 40-23-3

Jerry Moore 1979-80 11-11-0

Bob Tyler 1981 2-9-0

Corky Nelson 1982-90 48-52-1

Dennis Parker 1991-93 11-21-1

Matt Simon 1994-97 18

Darrell Dickey 1998-2006 42-64-0

Overall 462-411-34

TODD DODGE FILE

Hired: Dec. 12, 2006, to be head football coach at University of North Texas

Born: July 21, 1963

High School: Port Arthur Jefferson, Class of 1981

College/Education: Texas, class of 1987; bachelor of science in education

Family: Wife, Elizabeth; son, Todd "Riley"; daughter, Molly

Coaching experience: Head coach, Carroll, 2000-06; head coach, Fossil Ridge, 1998-99; head coach, Carrollton Smith, 1996-97; head coach, Cameron Yoe, 1994-95; quarterbacks/receivers coach, UNT, 1992-93; offensive coordinator, McKinney, 1989-91; quarterbacks/receivers coach, Rockwall, 1987-88.

State titles: 2002, 2003, 2005, all at Carroll

As a player: Four-year letterman at Texas at quarterback, ninth all-time in passing yards and touchdowns... Parade All-American quarterback at Port Arthur Jefferson in 1980... All-state selection same year, and two-time district most valuable player.

What they're saying

"He has built a team and philosophy that has staying power. In my personal dealings with him, I was impressed with his knowledge of the game, his dedication to the profession and his desire to succeed."

-- Bill Parcells, Dallas Cowboys head coach

"Todd is a credit to both the University of Texas and the high school coaches in this state.... He's had a lot of success and touched a lot of lives, and he is going to continue to do that."

-- Mack Brown, Texas head coach

"His offensive knowledge and his development of young quarterbacks is as good as anyone I've ever seen."

-- Gary Pinkel, Missouri head coach

Tale of the tape

Carroll football coach Todd Dodge is headed to Denton after being hired as coach at the University of North Texas. Actually, it's a better bet that Dodge will commute, at least for a while. For Dodge, the leap from high school to Division I college coaching is considered huge, but there are plenty of other differences between Carroll and UNT and their surrounding communities.

From local culture, football history and facilities, to attitudes about the sport and athletics in general, Carroll and UNT appear to have little in common. Both, though, want to win. For UNT, that's a good place to start in Dodge's efforts to turn the Mean Green around.

Carroll Category North Texas

Southlake Location Denton

$131,549 Median household income* $35,422

Grapevine, Keller, Colleyville, Trophy Club Peripheral communities Argyle, Ponder, Krum, Sanger, Lake Dallas

Green, white and black School colors Green, white and black

Six state championships Football achievements Four Sun Belt Conference championships

Dragon Stadium (11,000), opened in 2001 Football venue (capacity) Fouts Field (30,500), opened in 1952

Modern amenities and concessions; luxurious press box Lasting impressions of stadium Prison-like bathrooms, no elevator, broken heater

Explosive, one of high school's best Offensive system Ranks last in Sun Belt

Quarterback, receiver, linebacker Signature positions Running back, punter, kicker

PK Kris Brown Best-known NFL player DT "Mean" Joe Greene

Bob Ledbetter, Todd Dodge Most accomplished coaches Hayden Fry, Darrell Dickey

$6 million indoor practice facility Best football selling point New $8 million athletic center

$90,000 Head coach's 2006 salary $262,000

11 Number of assistant coaches Nine

vs. Trinity at Texas Stadium (46,339) Most attended 2006 game (home or neutral site) vs. SMU (25,231)

Bleached hair Player trend du jour Black uniforms

Name it Other sports of note Women's soccer

Central Market Foodie find Ponder Steakhouse

Southlake Town Square Hip hangout Sweetwater Grill & Tavern

Gutted its band/music budget; football untouched Slightly odd juxtaposition Band/music department 's budget exceeds football's

*Source: 2000 U.S. Census

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

Edited December 13, 2006 by OldTimer