Expanded Story On Rv's Contract; Friday's Scrimmage

NT80 · August 25, 2007

Regents approve AD Villarreal contract extension

12:20 AM CDT on Saturday, August 25, 2007

By Brett Vito / Staff Writer

North Texas athletic director Rick Villarreal signed a five-year contract extension Friday that includes a base salary of $190,000 and several incentives.

The board of regents approved the deal during its meetings before Villarreal signed the contract that will take effect on Sept. 1 and run until Aug. 31, 2012.

"I am honored that the university thinks that I am doing the job and can help the university continue to get better," Villarreal said. "We have done a lot of good things, but we have a lot of things we need to finish and I will be here to help with that."

Villarreal will receive a $7,200 car allowance, a courtesy car and retention bonuses of $50,000 on May 31, 2010, and Aug. 31, 2012. Other incentives included in the contract reward Villarreal for academic achievement by UNT athletes, postseason appearances by UNT teams, home-game attendance and ticket sales.

Villarreal has been UNT's athletic director since the spring of 2001 and has overseen an era of expansion. During his tenure, UNT has added a softball program, a campus dedicated in large part to women's athletics, and the Mean Green Athletic Center that houses coaches and administrators' offices and training facilities.

Villarreal is coming off one of the more eventful years in his time at the school that included the UNT men's basketball team advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1988 and the hiring of former Southlake Carroll head coach Todd Dodge to take over the Mean Green's football program.

"Rick has established a good record here and we are off to a good start this fall," UNT president Gretchen Bataille said. "It's important to have stability and he will bring that to the program."

UNT is hoping that stability will pay off at a time when the school is beginning a push to build a new football stadium to replace Fouts Field.

"Every possibility is in front of us," Villarreal said. "What we have experienced over the last five years is just the beginning of the changes that can help us get to a higher level. I have a great staff, a supportive administration and a community that is buying into what we are doing."

UNT goes through dress rehearsal

Dodge put his team through a workout Friday morning that will closely mirror the final practice before a game.

The Mean Green was scheduled to go through its full pre-game routine late Friday before a closed scrimmage at Fouts Field. Dodge said earlier in the week that UNT's starters and backups would face a scout team that will mimic Oklahoma's offense and defense. UNT will open its season against the Sooners on Sept. 1 in Norman, Okla.

"There are a million things on the check list now and that was one of them," Dodge said of the workout. "Practice the day before the game is a very important. It is not very physical but very mental."

UNT's players were looking forward not only to the scrimmage, but also to facing the Sooners, before their last scrimmage of fall workouts.

"We are looking forward to Oklahoma," UNT senior offensive lineman Adam Venegas said. "It's a great opportunity."

BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-

GreenN'walinsVet · August 25, 2007

How much of a rasie was this for Rick V?

Mad Hatter · August 25, 2007

So where is the info on the scrimmage? I was at least expecting something on Meangreensports.com

the green rokemi · August 25, 2007

kudos to RV, much deserved...

RETSO · August 25, 2007

Regents approve AD Villarreal contract extension
12:20 AM CDT on Saturday, August 25, 2007
By Brett Vito / Staff Writer
UNT is hoping that stability will pay off at a time when the school is beginning a push to build a new football stadium to replace Fouts Field.
So 2009 is a pipe dream?????? I just hope Dodge was not promised anything, he may be disappointed