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Football: Dodge Fires Defensive Coordinator

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NT80

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Football: Dodge fires defensive coordinator

01:01 AM CST on Saturday, January 5, 2008

By Brett Vito / Staff Writer

North Texas head coach Todd Dodge announced Friday that he will not renew the contract of defensive coordinator Ron Mendoza.

Mendoza joined Dodge's staff shortly after Dodge was introduced as the Mean Green's head coach last December. UNT ranked last nationally in scoring defense with an average of 45.1 points allowed per game in Mendoza's only season with the Mean Green.

UNT's struggles defensively were a key factor in the Mean Green finishing 2-10 in its first season under Dodge.

Mendoza was the defensive coordinator at Southlake Carroll before he followed Dodge to UNT.

"After careful evaluation of our defense during this last season, I have decided it is in the best interest of this football program to make a change at defensive coordinator," Dodge said in a statement. "These decisions are never easy, but ultimately I have to take the steps necessary that I believe will help build the football program at the University of North Texas."

UNT's defense set a number of dubious school records in its only season under Mendoza, including allowing the most points in a game in a 79-10 loss in to Oklahoma and most points allowed in a season with 541.

The Mean Green finished among the nation's worst defenses not only in points allowed, but also in total defense (113th with 486.4 yards allowed per game), rushing defense (115th with 229.7 yards allowed per game) and passing defense (96th with 256.8 yards allowed per game).

Dodge said before the season began that he expected his defense to be the strength of his first team at UNT. The Mean Green returned nine starters from a unit that allowed 25.3 points a game the previous year.

Dodge would not comment on specific candidates to replace Mendoza.

"I am in the process of interviewing," Dodge said. "I hope to have a coordinator named by the middle of January."

Dodge now has two openings on his defensive staff. Cornerbacks coach Butch LaCroix resigned after last season.

Dodge said he is still in the process of finding a replacement for LaCroix. Mendoza was UNT's linebackers coach in addition to serving as defensive coordinator.

Dodge is headed to the American Football Coaches Association Convention in Anaheim, Calif., this week. The event doubles as a job fair for coaches across the country.

.........................................................

Also from B.Vito:

Dodge hunting for new defensive coordinator

I got back to town a few hours ago from UNT's doubleheader with Troy. I don't know why, but it always seems like something important happens during the longest basketball road trips of the season.

I have been working the phones and have some information on a few of UNT's options for a defensive coordinator to replace Ron Mendoza later tonight.

For now let me just say that Dodge made the right call, even if it was a tough one. Dodge and Mendoza worked together at Southlake Carroll. By letting one of the original members of his coaching staff go, Dodge essentially admitted a mistake and began looking for a way to correct the problem. UNT will be better off in the long run for that painful decision.

Edited by NT80
GreenMachine Newbie

GreenMachine

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Football: Dodge fires defensive coordinator

For now let me just say that Dodge made the right call, even if it was a tough one. Dodge and Mendoza worked together at Southlake Carroll. By letting one of the original members of his coaching staff go, Dodge essentially admitted a mistake and began looking for a way to correct the problem. UNT will be better off in the long run for that painful decision.

This should also be a wake up call to all the other coaches on staff, either produce or good bye.

island eagle Newbie

island eagle

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This should also be a wake up call to all the other coaches on staff, either produce or good bye.

I'm just glad that TD made the necessary, if not hard, decision in this case. The good of the program has to be the main concern of the coach.

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