What Ever Happen To Fred Bleil

Charlie NT 73 · July 1, 2008

I was reading DCTF article regarding the Southland Conference,

and Texas State. I was suprised to see the new DC for Texas

State is Fred Bleil, the former North Texas coach.

DeepGreen · July 1, 2008

I was reading DCTF article regarding the Southland Conference,
and Texas State. I was suprised to see the new DC for Texas
State is Fred Bleil, the former North Texas coach.

Wish Fred was still here in some capacity. I thought he was a pretty good coach. Plus, I miss his blue shirt.

Chrisattsu · July 1, 2008

We are pretty excited to have Bleil on staff this year. Our defensive staff was young and inexperienced last fall. We tried to play some "Desert Swarm" defense and got torched in the secondary more times than not.

Bleil seems old school. If that tightens up our defense, I will be grateful.

Harry · July 1, 2008

Blue shirt was not Bliel the Blue shirt was Mike Bugar. He did that so it would be easier for his defensive line players to see him on the sidelines.

DeepGreen · July 1, 2008

Blue shirt was not Bliel the Blue shirt was Mike Bugar. He did that so it would be easier for his defensive line players to see him on the sidelines.

I stand corrected. It was blueshirt Bugar, another quality coach.

DeepGreen · July 1, 2008

Stop the internet!

Harry, isn't this Fred "blueshirt" Bleil?

Picture taken at the 2006 SMU game in Denton. Wasn't he at Tulane in 2007, now will be at TSU-San Marcus in 2008?

Photo courtesy of Rick Yeatts Photography

Edited July 1, 2008 by DeepGreen

Travis · July 1, 2008

I liked Bliel. I thought it was (obviously now) a bad idea to get rid of him in favor of Mendoza.

I thought he was getting our D back on the upswing.

I hope the best for him.

UNTLifer · July 1, 2008

I read that article too in DCTF, but thought it listed Bleil as a position coach for the defense, not the coordinator.

Harry · July 1, 2008

no that picture is Bugar - I think Bleil was in the press box...

DeepGreen · July 1, 2008

no that picture is Bugar - I think Bleil was in the press box...

Harry, you're killing me!

ADLER · July 2, 2008

I don't know if it has been previously posted, but here is a story on former assistant coach Kenny Evans who is now the head coach at Northeastern State University in Oklahoma.

NSU spring football adjusts to first coach outside its program in nearly 50 years

By Mike Kays

Phoenix Sports Editor

TAHLEQUAH — Kenny Evans knows the suit has a different smell, like any jacket that stays hung on the same office coat hanger for years.

No Northeastern State coach in nearly a half-century has arrived as an outsider. They’ve come from the same hanger, be it position coach, coordinator or head coach. It’s been a place where “ground-floor opportunity” equaled future promise for guys like George Elliott, Tom Eckert and John Horner — coaches covering the last 30-plus seasons who started as staff assistants.

But Evans, a Warner native — and NSU graduate — has changed that as he attempts to restore RiverHawk football to the prominence it enjoyed as late as the mid-1990s. As it’s a different step for administration, Evans, who got all his coaching experience away from his alma mater, hopes it will be a positive step.

A fresh sense of fan excitement certainly is there.

“We had 250 at our first spring scrimmage and 400 at the second with absolutely no word out,” Evans said, sitting in his office this week, The pitch in his voice delivered the wow-effect of a blazing fastball.

Word is out, though, for Saturday’s Green-White Scrimmage which wraps up a spring that exemplified a significant step toward installing a new system. Kickoff at Doc Wadley Stadium is 2 p.m.

“My basic philosophy that is something is not done right, it's confronted,” he said. “And that’s particularly players and it speaks about off-the-field problems, practice habits, talking back to a coach.

“I’ve kind of gone overboard on that this spring, some might say, but it was something I wanted to establish from the start. We’ve had a few leave that weren’t going to help us in that system.”

And even if a football secretary hasn’t been faced with a little face-to-face time, most people find that Evans is far from a football dictator. His personality bleeds enthusiasm, a trait needed for selling anything from snake oil to downtrodden football programs. His genuine nice-guy image will be welcome at a lot of high school athlete’s dinner tables during recruiting season, and he’ll quickly engage a group of boosters or civic people.

But, says longtime coaching friend Darrell Dickey, don’t fall for it totally. Dickey was the head coach at North Texas where Evans served from 1998 to 2006 and in 2001 led the school to its first Division I bowl appearance since 1959. Dickey, dismissed after the 2006 season, is now a coordinator at Utah State.

“Don’t let his good-natured personality fool you, because he’s very much a competitor on game day and when he’s working on football,” Dickey said. “Sometimes, people think you’ve got to be cussing everybody out to be a good football coach. He isn’t built like that. He’s good to people but he’s very demanding in his coaching.”

Bob Roberts, a member of NSU’s 1958 NAIA national championship team, has visited with Evans and spoke to the team as well as watched practices.

“I was overwhelmed with the organizational aspect. I didn’t see one person standing idle the whole time I was there,” he said. “You can tell he’s structured in what he does.”

NSU athletics director Eddie Griffin saw many of these attributes during the search process last winter.

“Any hire is an important hire for us, in all of our programs,” Griffin said. “You’re seeking someone who can put you over the top in terms of representing the university in all phases, and I can say that in seeing Kenny’s charisma, and knowing the background he brings to the table, I’m as excited about this hire as I can be and I’m excited for what I believe this is going to mean for Northeastern State football.”

Understand Griffin’s remarks to mean a level like the school enjoyed during the early portion of the Eckert years, while the school was still at the NAIA level. Eckert’s teams reached the quarterfinals in 1991 and 1992 before winning the national title in 1994 and reaching the finals again in 1995.

Jack Dobbins, arguably one of the Mount Rushmore faces of the university — the basketball facility is named for him — talks to Evans almost weekly.

“People skills — whether alumni, players, former players — he is exceptional in that department,” Dobbins said. “Add to that that he truly loves this place and I think that passion is going to play well into everything he does.

“Another thing that I think is critical is how that will play into recruiting. Like I said, he has the people skills. But most importantly, he’s spent a lot of time in an area which is ripe for recruiting. We need to compete in Texas as well as right here for players. He’s the right person to recruit there. He’ll help us out there, no doubt.”

Most recently Evans coached linebackers and specialized in recruiting at Louisiana Tech University. He spent just one season there after a highly successful stint at the University of North Texas from 1998 through 2006. The 2005 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) National Assistant Coach of the Year, Evans was assistant head coach for the Mean Green in 2005-06. He served as defensive coordinator from 2002-2005, recruiting coordinator from 2000-2002 and was a tight ends coach during the 1998-1999 seasons.

Along with installing a new philosophy, Evans recruited 15 players that enrolled at mid-term and will be a part of Saturday’s scrimmage. He added four new assistants. Charlie Cooper, who helped Brent Scott at Sequoyah High School, was hired to coordinate Evans’ “pistol” offense, a shotgun-style attack with a singe running back lined up directly behind the quarterback. Tyler Cummings, who worked with Evans at Louisiana Tech, is the new strength and tight ends coach. David Morgan will coach the offensive line and Kyle Woods, an NSU alum, comes from Northeastern A&M to coach the receivers.

Horner, who resigned following a 6-5 season last year, through an arrangement prior to Evans’ hiring, remains on staff as a defensive assistant.

“It may be the only example of its kind in the NCAA, but he’s done everything he’s been asked,” Evans said. “He’s a big part of the program’s past. What the future holds, I don’t really know, but everything is in a process of ongoing evaluation and staff is a part of that.”

Muskogee Phoenix Sports

UNTLifer · July 2, 2008

But, says longtime coaching friend Darrell Dickey, don’t fall for it totally. Dickey was the head coach at North Texas where Evans served from 1998 to 2006 and in 2001 led the school to its first Division I bowl appearance since 1959. Dickey, dismissed after the 2006 season, is now a coordinator at Utah State.
“Don’t let his good-natured personality fool you, because he’s very much a competitor on game day and when he’s working on football,” Dickey said. “Sometimes, people think you’ve got to be cussing everybody out to be a good football coach. He isn’t built like that. He’s good to people but he’s very demanding in his coaching.”

Did all you MFer's find this as funny as I did?

ADLER · July 2, 2008

Did all you MFer's find this as funny as I did?

Yes, fellow MFer, I caught it when I was posting it and I too thought it was funny.

TxStBobcat · July 19, 2008

Looks like not only this season does Texas State have Fred Bleil coming onboard to overhaul our defense, but we just hired Mike Bugar as our D-Line coach also.

http://txstatebobcats.cstv.com/sports/m-fo.../071808aaa.html

Mike Bugar Named Defensive Line Coach

Highly successful veteran coach brings over 31 years of experience to Bobcat football program

July 18, 2008

San Marcos, Texas - Texas State University head football coach Brad Wright has named Mike Bugar as the new defensive line coach for the Bobcats. Bugar comes to Texas State after serving seven seasons as the interior defensive line coach at North Texas from 2000-07.

"We are very excited to have Mike Bugar as our defensive line coach," Wright said. "He brings an unbelievable wealth of knowledge and experience to our staff. He also will help enhance the same "mentality" that we began to implement in our program this past January."

During his last six years at North Texas, Bugar produced seven All-Sun Belt Conference selections, including two-time Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year Brandon Kennedy. The Mean Green also led the Sun Belt in every major defensive statistical category three times during that span. In 2002, the defense ranked No. 3 nationally in scoring defense and No. 9 in total defense. From 2001-2003, only five opposing players rushed for over 100 yards in a game against Bugar's front line. His defensive front also helped hold opponents to just 104.7 yards per game rushing in 2003, which is the school's best average since 1967.

Bugar joined North Texas in 2000 as the program's strength and conditioning coordinator and became the team's interior defensive line coach in 2001. He has over 31 years of experience in coaching the defensive line and strength and conditioning.

A three-year letter winner and 1969 graduate of Florida State University, Bugar began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at his alma mater in 1970. He also has served on the staffs at Wofford College (1971-76); Gardner Webb College (1977); Clemson University (1977-79); University of Florida (1980-82); West Georgia College (1985-87); Southern Miss (1988-89); LSU (1990-93); Baylor (1994-96); Mary Hardin-Baylor (1998); and Jacksonville State (1999).

In addition, he spent one year in the professional coaching ranks as defensive line coach for the Arizona Wranglers of the USFL in 1983. He has coached under Curley Hallman at LSU, Danny Ford at Clemson and Charley Pell at Florida during his career.

He has coached for schools that appeared in 13 bowl games, including the 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 New Orleans Bowls (North Texas), 1994 Alamo (Baylor); 1990 All-American (Southern Mississippi); 1988 Independence (Southern Mississippi); 1982 Astro Bluebonnet (Florida); 1981 Peach (Florida); 1980 Tangerine (Florida); 1979 Peach (Clemson); 1978 Gator (Clemson); and 1977 Gator (Clemson). During Bugar's playing days at Florida State, the Seminoles participated in four bowl games - 1964 Gator; 1966 Sun; 1967 Gator, and 1968 Peach.

greenagain · July 19, 2008

Looks like not only this season does Texas State have Fred Bleil coming onboard to overhaul our defense, but we just hired Mike Bugar as our D-Line coach also.
http://txstatebobcats.cstv.com/sports/m-fo.../071808aaa.html
Mike Bugar Named Defensive Line Coach
Highly successful veteran coach brings over 31 years of experience to Bobcat football program
July 18, 2008
San Marcos, Texas - Texas State University head football coach Brad Wright has named Mike Bugar as the new defensive line coach for the Bobcats. Bugar comes to Texas State after serving seven seasons as the interior defensive line coach at North Texas from 2000-07.
"We are very excited to have Mike Bugar as our defensive line coach," Wright said. "He brings an unbelievable wealth of knowledge and experience to our staff. He also will help enhance the same "mentality" that we began to implement in our program this past January."
During his last six years at North Texas, Bugar produced seven All-Sun Belt Conference selections, including two-time Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year Brandon Kennedy. The Mean Green also led the Sun Belt in every major defensive statistical category three times during that span. In 2002, the defense ranked No. 3 nationally in scoring defense and No. 9 in total defense. From 2001-2003, only five opposing players rushed for over 100 yards in a game against Bugar's front line. His defensive front also helped hold opponents to just 104.7 yards per game rushing in 2003, which is the school's best average since 1967.
Bugar joined North Texas in 2000 as the program's strength and conditioning coordinator and became the team's interior defensive line coach in 2001. He has over 31 years of experience in coaching the defensive line and strength and conditioning.
A three-year letter winner and 1969 graduate of Florida State University, Bugar began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at his alma mater in 1970. He also has served on the staffs at Wofford College (1971-76); Gardner Webb College (1977); Clemson University (1977-79); University of Florida (1980-82); West Georgia College (1985-87); Southern Miss (1988-89); LSU (1990-93); Baylor (1994-96); Mary Hardin-Baylor (1998); and Jacksonville State (1999).
In addition, he spent one year in the professional coaching ranks as defensive line coach for the Arizona Wranglers of the USFL in 1983. He has coached under Curley Hallman at LSU, Danny Ford at Clemson and Charley Pell at Florida during his career.
He has coached for schools that appeared in 13 bowl games, including the 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 New Orleans Bowls (North Texas), 1994 Alamo (Baylor); 1990 All-American (Southern Mississippi); 1988 Independence (Southern Mississippi); 1982 Astro Bluebonnet (Florida); 1981 Peach (Florida); 1980 Tangerine (Florida); 1979 Peach (Clemson); 1978 Gator (Clemson); and 1977 Gator (Clemson). During Bugar's playing days at Florida State, the Seminoles participated in four bowl games - 1964 Gator; 1966 Sun; 1967 Gator, and 1968 Peach.