Tony Benford named new North Texas Coach!

[KoldBeer]

North Texas has hired Marquette assistant Tony Benford, sources told CBSSports. Story coming.

This post has been promoted to an article

[CMJ]

[Green P1]

I'd rather have Mike Peterson....

[chrisfisher]

I thought we were done with the assistant approach?

[CMJ]

I thought we were done with the assistant approach?

Does irritate me that we didn't go with Forrest given that we're going with an assistant. But, if Benford is the guy - then I'm all in with him.

[Rudy]

I'd rather have Mike Peterson....

You and me both. Damn

[MeanGreenDan]

Tim McMahon Twitter:

Confirmed @CBSSports report that North Texas basketball will hire Marquette associate head coach Tony Benford

[mgfan]

Damn . I hope rv knows what he is doing.

[KoldBeer]

I know everybody hates twitter but I liked this comment on hire (National writer for The Daily):

Dan Wolken ‏ @DanWolken

No surprise, but North Texas made a better hire than SMU.

7m Ryan Coatney ‏

@DanWolken pretty sure benford was a finalist at SMU. apparently they didn't think he'd be a better hire.

Dan Wolken ‏ @DanWolken Close

@_coat They were wrong. There's a reason North Texas has won at basketball and SMU hasn't.

[Green Lantern]

Damn . I hope rv knows what he is doing.

ESPN.com has picked up the story as well. Welcome aboard coach Benford!

[Rudy]

Tim McMahon Twitter:

Confirmed @CBSSports report that North Texas basketball will hire Marquette associate head coach Tony Benford

[Censored by Laurie]

I guess RV seeing Fran get abused on the pick-and-roll by a kid with one hand and a piece of waiting room furniture sold him on Benford.

#ihopeheknowswhathe'sdoing

[Mean Green Scrappy]

Is it true? Can we welcome him? Welcome to Mean Green Nation Coach Benford

[UNTLifer]

Seems like a good hire to me. Honestly, I don't know enough, outside of what I have read here, about any of them to make a call either way. I just don't want Trilli Part 2. I say, if these reports are accurate, welcome aboard Coach Benford.

[UNTLifer]

I'd rather have Mike Peterson....

Why? What's your issue with Benford?

[Bottomgreen]

Finally!!! Now we can get back to whats important.. Winning. Coach Benford lets kick some butt.

[UNTLifer]

You and me both. Damn

Again, what's the issue with Benford?

[golfingomez]

any word of a press conference?

[Maduro]

Now we can get back to whats important..

[KoldBeer]

Here's some good news about Benford...

@espn_macmahon

Tony Mitchell's HS coach says North Texas star has good relationship w/ Tony Benford from recruiting. Expects Mitchell to stay in school.

[ghost of smith hall]

I have mentioned before that I would like to see UNT become a destination for up and coming coaches and not a stop on the recycled coach carousel. That said I have to admit I was excited about possibility of Fran...If Fran is out and Benford is in...I am fine with it. Benford gives us pretty much everything we were wanting:

1) Success at Big-time college basketball programs

2) Texas ties

3) A hot name to draw interest from fans, future players.

May not have the "head coaching" experience but neither did JJ..and neither did Bill Self, Tubby Smith, Steve Robinson, etc. who were so successful at Tulsa (earlier post).

Welcome aboard Coach Benford, looking forward to seeing you in action.

[Censored by Laurie]

Again, what's the issue with Benford?

I think it's less an issue with Benford, but I think for many its more of a disappointment in not landing some of the other names associated with our search.

Perception is Benford = Forrest...at least from what I've read here in the past few weeks.

We really have no idea what sort of negotiations went down...Capel was my man, but I think that was just a rumor...Fran may or may not have been as interested, Forrest may never have been a consideration. RV knows how important a hire this is...so...welcome Coach Benford.

[MeanGreenHoops]

Here's some good news about Benford...

@espn_macmahon

Tony Mitchell's HS coach says North Texas star has good relationship w/ Tony Benford from recruiting. Expects Mitchell to stay in school.

You sir love you some Twitter. Good Work!

[golfingomez]

I'm very interested to see what kind of schedule he puts together for next year... could be very intriguing!

[smoothfresh]

Coach Benford: What are our jersey's going to look like? Do you have any pull in fixing that sidewalk? How about a mid-court hanging scoreboard? So do we play Kentucky or North Carolina at the Super Pit next year? That's really my only questions.

I look forward to your press conference.

WELCOME COACH BENFORD, I like the hire!

Edited April 24, 2012 by smoothfresh