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Coach Andy Mac

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  1. Eric Morris, Washington State’s offensive coordinator and a Mike Leach disciple who played for the late coach at Texas Tech, accepted a position to become the head coach at North Texas on Tuesday morning. Morris was WSU’s offensive coordinator for one season, helping lead the Cougars to seven regular season wins and an appearance in Saturday’s Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl against Fresno State. He becomes the second coordinator to leave WSU after one season in Pullman. Cougars defensive coordinator Brian Ward accepted the same position at Arizona State approximately one week ago. WSU coach Jake Dickert is taking over defensive coordinator duties at the LA Bowl, but it hasn’t been specified whether Morris will join the Cougars on Saturday at SoFi Stadium. Morris was reportedly one of three finalists for the Texas State head coaching job earlier this month, but the Bobcats eventually hired Morris’ successor at Incarnate Word, G.J. Kinne. “I am incredibly honored to be the head football coach at North Texas,” Morris said in a school news release. “I am humbled and grateful for the opportunity given to me by Jared Mosley and President Smatresk to lead UNT Football into a new era in The American. “As a native Texan, I understand the pride and standard of Mean Green football and I am humbled to be able to lead this storied program. My wife, Maggie, and our boys are so excited to return home. We can’t wait to meet the team and get to work.” A photo posted by WSU running backs coach Mark Atuaia depicted Dickert and Morris on a private jet Monday while recruiting. Dickert, the first-year WSU coach, sent will wishes to the outgoing offensive coordinator on social media Tuesday afternoon. “Excited for Eric, Maggie, Jack and George and their new journey,” Dickert tweeted. “As always the COUGS will rise to meet all challenges and field one of the best offensive units in the country.” read more: https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2022/dec/13/eric-morris-washington-states-offensive-coordinato/
  2. UNT Football: Eric Morris Hired as 20th Head Football Coach DENTON, Texas – Eric Morris has been hired as the 20th head coach in North Texas history, Vice President and Director of Athletics Jared Mosley announced Tuesday. “We are truly excited to welcome Coach Eric Morris and his family to North Texas,” Mosley said. “From early in our process Eric was able to clearly articulate his vision for UNT and what we can do in the short term to build momentum as we transition to the American Athletic Conference. “Among a deep and talented pool of candidates Eric distinguished himself with his great energy and strong track record as a championship head coach and a proven developer of talent. As a Texas native, he has deep relationships across the state, and he understands the importance of connecting with campus and the local community.” A record-setting offensive play-caller with extensive experience in the state of Texas, Morris comes to Denton following one season as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Washington State. He previously served as head coach at Incarnate Word in San Antonio for four seasons from 2018-21. “I am incredibly honored to be the head football coach at North Texas,” Morris said. “I am humbled and grateful for the opportunity given to me by Jared Mosley and President Smatresk to lead UNT Football into a new era in The American. As a native Texan, I understand the pride and standard of Mean Green football and I am humbled to be able to lead this storied program. My wife, Maggie, and our boys are so excited to return home. We can’t wait to meet the team and get to work.” In his first season with Washington State, the 37-year-old Morris has engineered an offense that ranks first in the Pac 12 and 10th nationally in redzone efficiency, scoring 91.5 percent of its trips inside the 20. The Cougars’ 52 points at Stanford were the most scored in a conference game since 2019, and the most in a road conference game since 2018. Under his guidance, quarterback Cameron Ward, who followed Morris from UIW, passed for 23 touchdowns (6th, Pac-12; 29th, FBS) and completed 298 passes (2nd, Pac-12; 10th, FBS). Ward posted five games with at least one rushing and one passing touchdown. Ward finished the regular season with 3,094 passing yards and 23 touchdowns to go with 285 rushing yards and five scores. He completed 64.1 percent of his passes. The Cougars also displayed a rejuvenated ground game, as Jaylen Jenkins became the first WSU freshman with 100 or more rushing yards in a game since 2005 with 130 against USC. Nakia Watson was the first rusher with consecutive 100-yards games following 166 at Stanford and 116 in a win over Arizona State. In his UIW tenure, Morris was twice named the Southland Conference Coach of the Year (2018, 2021). He led the Cardinals to two conference titles (2018, 2021), twice reached the FCS playoffs, and left UIW as the program record holder for victories with 24. During his time in San Antonio, Morris posted a 24-18 record and orchestrated an offense that finished in the top 10 nationally for total offense in three of his four seasons, including leading the nation in 2020-21 at 552.3 yards per game. His teams finished in the top five in scoring both of his final two seasons, third in 2020-21 (42.0 ppg) and fifth in 2021 at 39.5 ppg. In 2021, Morris guided the Cardinals to the Southland Conference title, reached the NCAA FCS Second Round, and finished with a 10-3 record, the winningest record in program history. Morris mentored longtime pupil Ward, who finished the season garnering Stats Perform FCS All-America Second Team honors as well as being named to the Hero Sports 2021 Sophomore All-American Team. Ward also received Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Year honors after breaking UIW program records for most career passing touchdowns and career passing yards, Ward was also a finalist for the Walter Payton Award. Morris also oversaw the development of wide receiver Taylor Grimes, who earned multiple All-American honors in 2021 and was named Southland Conference Newcomer of the Year after setting single-season records for receiving yards (1,145) and touchdown receptions (15). Morris guided the Cardinals to one of the best turnarounds in the FCS, being named the 2018 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) Regional Coach of the Year, the 2018 Southland Conference Coach of the Year, and an Eddie Robinson Award finalist. That season he guided UIW to a 6-4 regular season record, a conference championship and the program’s first FCS Playoff appearance in his first season. Prior to Incarnate Word, Morris spent five seasons (2013-17) as the offensive coordinator at his alma mater, Texas Tech. During that time, Morris helped the Red Raiders to three bowl games and guided one of the top offenses in the nation. From 2013-17, Texas Tech's offense scored over 30 points per game all five seasons, and all five years was ranked among the top 16 teams in total offense, including leading the nation in 2016 at 564.4 yards per game. The Tech offense was highlighted by quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who Morris recruited and coached in Lubbock. Morris, a native of Shallowater, Texas, returned to his roots in West Texas after spending the 2012 season as the inside receivers coach for former Tech head coach Mike Leach at Washington State. Prior to Pullman, Morris spent two years at the University of Houston, first as an offensive graduate assistant in 2010 and then as the offensive quality control assistant in 2011. Before joining the coaching profession, Morris played in the Canadian Football League in 2009. Morris was a versatile, all-round player during his four seasons as a Red Raider wide receiver (2005-08). He was an All-Big 12 punt returner as a senior and was also a member of the 2007 Academic All-Big 12 first team. Morris arrived at Tech following a stellar prep career at Shallowater High School where he was named the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal All-South Plains Super Team Offensive Player of the Year as a senior in 2003. Morris received his bachelor’s degree in communications studies from Texas Tech in 2008. He and his wife, Maggie, are parents to two sons, Nicholas and George. --GMG--
  3. ARLINGTON — The North Texas men's basketball team made a second half come back to beat UT Arlington on the road Tuesday night, 60-57, at the College Park Center. The Mean Green were led by senior Tylor Perry who scored a game-high 22 points, 17 of which came in the second half. "We were not at our best coming into the game," said head coach Grant McCasland. "We had guys banged up, not 100 percent. But I told the guys that this is what we have to learn. We have to learn how to win when we're not at our best. Championship teams win when there is adversity on the road. Obviously Tylor Perry has been in those moments and delivered. And (tonight) he delivered on offense about as well as he possibly could have." UNT (7-2), who was without junior guard Rubin Jones Tuesday night due to his offseason knee surgery, trailed the Mavericks (4-6) by as many as seven points in the first half as the Mean Green's offense trudged along. Offensive rebounds and second chance points kept North Texas in the game. Sophomore Aaron Scott grabbed 10 rebounds in the win but six offensive rebounds. In the second half, UNT opened the half on a 6-0 run that gave them a lead they'd never give back, though UTA pounded on the comeback door constantly. With one minute and 16 seconds remaining and the shot clock draining, Perry nailed his fourth 3-pointer to give his Mean Green team a six-point lead. He then sank free throws — he was 10-of-10 at the line overall Tuesday — before Kai Huntsberry iced the victory with a driving layup with 24 seconds remaining in the game. UNT stays on the road as they travel to Phoenix Saturday to face Grand Canyon at the Phoenix Suns' Footprint Center at 4:30 p.m. CT.
  4. CHICAGO (Dec. 6, 2022) – After having stellar performances on the field this season, North Texas freshmen Var’Keyes Gumms and Febechi Nwaiwu both were named College Football News (CFN) Freshmen All-Americans, the organization announced Tuesday. Gumms, who set a record for the most single-season yards by a tight end in program history, was a Second Team selection while Nwaiwu, who started 12 of 13 games for the Mean Green this season, landed on the Third Team. UNT is one of just 18 FBS schools to land multiple players on the first, second or third teams and the only school in C-USA to accomplish that feat. One of the top tight ends in the country, regardless of classification, Gumms finished the season with 33 catches for 451 yards and five touchdowns. His five touchdowns are the second-most by any TE in UNT history and is tied for 13th among all FBS TEs. Among FBS TEs who had at least 50 targets on the year, Gumms’ 13.7 yards per reception ranks second in FBS, only behind Georgia’s Brock Bowers who was recently named a finalist for the 2022 John Mackey Award given to the best tight end in college football. Nwaiwu, meanwhile, had a strong 2022 campaign after redshirting a season ago. A 12-game starter at guard for UNT, Nwaiwu blocked for a Mean Green offense that ranked inside the top-30 in FBS in total offense, rushing offense and scoring offense. According to Pro Football Focus (PFF) Nwaiwu is the highest graded freshman offensive lineman in Conference USA and ranks among the top-20 among all lineman in the league. In 391 pressure opportunities, Nwaiwu has not allowed a sack and has given up just 11 total pressures this season. Both Gumms and Nwaiwu return to action with the Mean Green on Saturday, Dec. 17 when they play in the Frisco Bowl at 8:15 pm inside Toyota Stadium against Boise State.
  5. Join @Evan@Harry@BeyondTheGreenand @TheReal_jayD as they discuss the firing of 7-year UNT Head Football Coach Seth Littrell as well as the impact on the program and the future. The boys also discuss possible replacements for Littrell as well as the status of the open AD position as Wren Baker moves on to almost heaven West Virginia. direct audio link: https://gomeangreen.libsyn.com/gomeangreencom-barbershop-podcast-229
  6. Join @Evan@Harry@BeyondTheGreenand @TheReal_jayD as they discuss the firing of 7-year UNT Head Football Coach Seth Littrell as well as the impact on the program and the future. The boys also discuss possible replacements for Littrell as well as the status of the open AD position as Wren Baker moves on to almost heaven West Virginia. direct audio link: https://traffic.libsyn.com/gomeangreen/LIttrell_gone_mixdown.mp3
  7. Last week, I looked through Brent Key’s connections to find potential candidates for his coaching staff here at Georgia Tech. And I have to say, I did not walk away from that list overly impressed with many of the candidates. It has been discussed (but not confirmed) that one of the good things about hiring Brent Key is that he is being brought in at a lower price which means Tech can spend more with its offensive coordinator hire. We have already seen that Tech is willing to put more money towards a coordinator hire with Chip Long, who is set to make $850K to not coach this year, more than double what his predecessor Dave Patenaude earned at Tech. As I was perusing Twitter yesterday, I saw the shocking news that North Texas had fired their head coach Seth Littrell. In seven seasons coaching the Mean Green, Littrell took his team to five bowl games. Prior to him taking the job in 2016, North Texas had been to one bowl game since 2004. It was mind-boggling across the country. But, that means he’s available for a job, and I think Georgia Tech should give him one as their offensive coordinator. A graduate of Oklahoma, Littrell got his first position coaching job at Texas Tech under Mike Leach. He served as the Red Raiders’ running backs coach from 2005 to 2008. And well, the running backs were very good while he was there. read more: https://www.fromtherumbleseat.com/georgia-tech-football/2022/12/5/23494669/seth-littrell-should-be-georgia-techs-next-offensive-coordinator
  8. Seth Littrell Current Gig: Unemployed (North Texas Head Coach, 2016-2022) Other OC Experience: UNC (2014-2015), Indiana (2012-2013), Arizona (2010-2011) Stats as a OC (SP+ Offense Ranking): 53rd (2022); 100th (2021); 83rd (2020); 86th (2019); 67th (2018); 65th (2017); 111th (2016); 7th (2015); 30th (2014); 25th (2013); 52nd (2012); 23rd (2011); 29th (2010); It was just announced that Littrell has been let go at North Texas after seven years on the job and just a day after losing in the CUSA Championship Game to UTSA. Over his seven years in Denton, the Mean Green finished with 9 wins twice and played in two conference title games. They went 11-5 in conference over the last two years and are set to jump to the AAC in 2023. Prior to his first head coaching gig, Littrell was the Assistant Head Coach and OC at UNC under Larry Fedora. His final year in Chapel Hill was the high-water mark for the Fedora era as the offense (and program as a whole) backslid after Littrell left town. Oh, yeah. Littrell and Dave Doeren just happened to be on staff at Kansas together from 2002-2004, Littrell as a Graduate Assistant and Doeren as the LB coach and Recruiting Coordinator. No idea what the relationship was between the two, but sometimes it’s those early connections that last. The positives here are... well, just look at those offensive numbers he produced when he was an OC. In six seasons as an OC, only once did an offense of his finish outside of the Top 30 in SP+ Offense. Only three times in ten seasons under Doeren has NC State’s offense finished in the Top 30 (29th in 2018, 15th in 2017, and 27th in 2015). Littrell would also offer another former head coach to the staff, one who has a reputation for creating a family-centric program much like Doeren and Ruffin McNeill, and someone with prior ties to the state. The negatives are basically just that the guy used to coach at UNC. That’s the only tie to that school for the former Oklahoma running back (class of 2000). read more: https://www.backingthepack.com/nc-state-football/2022/12/4/23493430/2022-nc-state-wolfpack-football-poaps-offensive-coordinator
  9. Humble beginnings breed fierce competitors. Former University of North Texas AD Wren Baker is in Morgantown and prepared to get to work. Baker brings wife Heather and daughters Addisyn and Reagan to the Mountain State en route to becoming West Virginia University's 13th Director of Athletics. His stay in North Texas began in 2016, but prior to entering college athletics administration, Baker was working as a high school principal in rural Oklahoma. At 26 years old, Baker was tasked with organizing teachers, students, conduct, and budgeting, all aspects of his admin history that cross over nicely into Power-5 higher ed. When he got out of secondary education administration, Baker's first stop was at Rogers State University, where he became the first men's basketball coach in the school’s history. After that, he was the director of athletics for Northwest Missouri State, and served as deputy director of athletics at the University of Memphis and the University of Missouri. Baker then became the University of North Texas Vice President and Director of Athletics in 2016. He saw seven different UNT teams combine to win 17 conference or division championships, his new coaching hires have combined to win nearly 70 percent of their games, and his fundraising produced the five largest gifts in UNT history and a doubling of the school's single-year fundraising record. Baker's impact also manifested in overall attendance boosts for North Texas' football (71 percent) and women's basketball (60+ percent) programs. Baker was selected away from the Mean Green ahead of 7-8 other applicants, WVU president E. Gordon Gee said. Talent appraisal company Turnkey ZRG assisted in the application process, and Gee gave the company a nod of approval. "When we interviewed Wren, I can tell you he fits every one of our criteria and in addition to being an exceptionally talented athletic director, he's also a very positive person who easily connects and engages with everyone that he meets," Gee said. He understands our mission; he knows where we want to go, and I have no doubt that he will get us there. read more: https://www.si.com/college/westvirginia/football/wren-bakers-journey-to-west-virginia
  10. The Mean Green loss puts UTSA at 6-5 in the all-time series. The loss puts head coach Seth Littrell at 44-44 in his Mean Green tenure, and he is fourth on the program’s all-time win list. UNT’s captains for the game were KD Davis, Roderic Burns, Austin Aune, Manase Mose and Sean-Thomas Faulkner. The Mean Green are now 9-37 when trailing at the half in the Seth Littrell era, and this was the first time UNT had trailed a C-USA opponent at the half this season and first time its trailed at half this year since Sept. 24, at Memphis. The 14-point halftime deficit was the second-largest halftime deficit of the year, behind the 31-10 lead SMU had on Sept. 3. Junior QB Austin Aune (Argyle, Texas) finished 14 for 29 for 194 yards, two interceptions and a touchdown pass. Aune’s 194 passing yards gives him 7,086 in his career and he is in fourth place on the program’s all-time passing yardage list, 338 yards shy of Derek Thompson (2009-13) for third. Aune completed passes to eight different receivers. The game was just the third this season in which Aune has failed to throw multiple touchdown passes. His 36-yard touchdown pass to Jyaire Shorter with 8:42 to play in the third quarter was his 32nd of the season and 55th of his career. It broke Mason Fine’s single-season program record of 31, which was set in 2017. That touchdown pass also tied the all-time, single-season touchdown responsibility record of 33, set by Mitch Maher in 1994. Sophomore RB Ikaika Ragsdale (Las Vegas, Nevada) had 17 carries for 108 yards and a touchdown. Ragsdale’s 108-yard day marked his third 100-yard rushing day of the season and sixth of his career. Ragsdale’s 2-yard touchdown run with 8:09 to play in the first quarter was his seventh touchdown this season and 12th of his career. Ragsdale’s 56-yard run from the UNT 1-yard line in the final seconds of the first quarter was a career-long run. Junior WR Jyaire Shorter (Killeen, Texas) finished with two catches for 48 yards and a touchdown. Twenty of Shorter’s 22 catches this season have gone for a first down or a touchdown (10 touchdowns). His 36-yard touchdown reception with 8:42 left in the third quarter was his 10th of the season and 19th of his career in just 31 games. Shorter’s 10 touchdown receptions this season is tied for ninth on the single-season list. He is the only player in the country with 10 touchdowns on less than 25 receptions. In the last 15 years, Shorter is the only player in FBS with nine or more touchdowns and less than 25 catches in a season. He also accomplished the feat in 2019 when he finished with nine touchdowns on 24 catches. Redshirt freshman TE Var’Keyes Gumms (Houston) finished with two catches for 13 yards. Gumms’ two catches give him 33 on the season and he is second on the program’s single-season list for most receptions by a tight end in UNT history behind only Jason Pirtle (2017-21), who had 41 in 2021. Senior OL Manase Mose (Euless, Texas) made his 61st straight start and is the program’s all-time leader for most career starts at North Texas. The center has started every game of his career and is in his fifth season with the Mean Green. When UTSA opened the scoring with 12:04 left in the first quarter, it marked the fastest a UNT opponent has scored this season since the season-opening win over UTEP, when the Miners scored just 1:02 into the game. Senior LB KD Davis (Ennis, Texas) finished the day with 14 tackles, including five solo stops. Davis now has 421 career tackles and passed Byron Gross (1987-90), who finished his career with 418 total tackles, to become the program’s all-time tackles leader. Midway through the fourth quarter got his 12th tackle to break record. Davis now has 196 career solo tackles to move into second on the all-time list ahead of Craig Robertson (2006-10), who finished with 194. Junior LB Larry Nixon III (North Richland Hills, Texas) finished the day with seven tackles, including four solo stops, and a tackle for-loss. Senior DB Sean-Thomas Faulkner (Easley, S.C.) finished with 11 tackles, including six solo stops. His 11 tackles tied his season high, which was previously set at UNLV. Junior DB DeShawn Gaddie (Arlington, Texas) finished with nine tackles, including six solo stops, a forced fumble and a pass breakup. Gaddie’s nine tackles were a new career- and season-high, besting his previous mark of eight. Sophomore DB Logan Wilson (Dallas) finished with nine tackles, including six solo stops. Wilson’s nine tackles were a new career- and season-high, besting his previous mark of eight. Sophomore DL Roderick Brown (Forney, Texas) finished with eight tackles, including three solo stops, and a half-sack. Brown’s eight tackles set a new career high, breaking his previous best mark of seven. Junior LB Mazin Richards (Burleson, Texas) finished with three tackles, including three solo stops, two tackles for-loss and a pass breakup. Sophomore DL Tom Trieb (Arlington Heights, Ill.) finished with three tackles, including three solo stops, and two sacks. Trieb entered the game without a full sack in his Mean Green career and finished the night with 2.0 sacks. Senior DB Quinn Whitlock (Pinola, Miss.) finished with 10 tackles, including four solo stops. Whitlock’s 10 tackles broke his previous career- and season-high of nine. Junior LB Kevin Wood (Converse, Texas) finished with seven tackles, including two solo stops. Senior kicker Ethan Mooney (Fort Worth) went 2-for-2 on field goal attempts and 3-for-3 on extra points. Mooney now has 325 career points and is the program’s all-time scoring leader. Mooney now has 102 points on the season and is now third third all-time in single-season kicking points, trailing Cole Hedlund (2018) by six. Trevor Moore holds the single-season record with 115 in 2017.
  11. C-USA Championship Tickets Are Delivered! All tickets purchased through UNT have been transferred to your email on file over the last 48 hours. If you have not received an email, please check the spam/junk/other folders. Tickets may be accepted through the UTSA account manager via a standard web browser such as Safari or Google Chrome and then adding the tickets to your Apple/Google wallet. We encourage you to do this prior to arriving to the Alamodome to ensure a smooth and speedy entry process. Downloading the UTSA Roadrunners app is not required! Arrive early as a large crowd is expected. The Alamodome is a clear bag policy facility C-USA Parking The Alamodome parking lots are only available to UTSA season pass holders. There are other public parking lots available in the area that offer game day parking. Rideshare pick-up and drop-off is located in the Convention Center lot at the corner of Montana St. and Tower of Americas Way. VIA Park & Ride will be available from the Crossroads Park & Ride location, get more info here. ADA parking is located in Lot A on a first-come, first-served basis if you have a valid placard. C-USA Championship Account Management Please use the UTSA account manger site to manage your tickets. Click here for UTSA Account Manager. C-USA Digital Ticketing Info Page Please use the UTSA digital ticketing page for more information on how to download your tickets. Click here for the Digital Ticketing Information Page. UNT Ticket Office The North Texas Ticket Office will be open all week 9 am - 5 pm. Please call 940-565-2527 for assistance. UNT Game Day Customer Service North Texas Ticket Office representatives can be found at the southwest box office on game day. UNT Alumni Association Pre-Game Tailgate The UNT Alumni Association will host a tailgate party with free food, UNT swag and a cash bar from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Dec. 2 at Smoke BBQ + SKYBAR, 501 E. Crockett St., San Antonio.
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