Drc Dodge Still Filling Out Unt Staff

[OldTimer]

Football: Dodge still filling out UNT staff

Coach gives assignments to Mean Green assistants

12:30 AM CST on Saturday, January 6, 2007

By Brett Vito / Staff Writer

Todd Dodge’s staff at North Texas continued to take shape on Friday when Butch LaCroix returned to the school as the Mean Green’s cornerbacks coach.

LaCroix spent six years on UNT’s staff in the 1980s after finishing his playing career at the University of Houston.

LaCroix is the sixth coach to join Dodge’s first staff at UNT. His assignment as cornerbacks coach is one of several Dodge announced that will keep the coaches he brought with him from Southlake Carroll in familiar roles.

Todd Ford will serve as UNT’s offensive coordinator, while Ron Mendoza will be the Mean Green’s defensive coordinator. Both served in the same capacity at Carroll under Dodge, who took over as Mean Green head coach last month before closing out his run at Carroll by leading the Dragons to a fourth Class 5A state title.

Robert Drake, a third former Carroll assistant, will coach UNT’s defensive line. Drake served in the same role with the Dragons. Mendoza will coach UNT’s linebackers in addition to serving as the Mean Green’s defensive coordinator.

Chuck Peterson, who was the offensive coordinator at Air Force last season, will coach UNT’s safeties. Peterson has spent the majority of his career coaching on the offensive side of the ball but was a four-year letterman at defensive back for Air Force.

Dodge has previously announced that former Haltom head coach and UNT letterman Clayton George will coach the Mean Green’s wide receivers.

Dodge still has a few positions to fill and plans to complete his staff in the next few days.

BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870. His e-mail address is bvito@dentonrc.com.