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As we reported earlier today, Noah Joseph is leaving UNT after two highly successful seasons to join the staff at Indiana. Joseph was UNT’s safeties coach and will serve in the same capacity with the Hoosiers. He was also UNT’s recruiting coordinator. Now that I have made it to Miami, I have had a chance to gather my material from interviews with both Joseph and McCarney. Here’s a little more on the situation. Joseph is from Zanesville, Ohio, which is about four and a half hours away from Indiana. He’s a Midwest, Big Ten kind of guy. “Coaching in the Big Ten was attractive and so is coaching at Indiana, which has an exciting team,” Joseph said. “They are on the verge of a turnaround like we had last season.” And while he wouldn’t go into specifics, Joseph said money was also a factor. read more: http://meangreenblog.dentonrc.com/2014/02/joseph-mccarney-talk-about-assistants-move-to-indiana.html/

UNT made the switch on its coaching staff official today, announcing that Mike Nelson has ridden off into the sunset and retirement on his motorcycle and will be replaced by Kevin Patrick, a former South Florida assistant coach. We have talked about both moves extensively, but have yet to delve into the departure of one of the more interesting figures in recent UNT history in terms of assistant coaches. Nelson was around for five seasons, which is a pretty long time in the world of college athletics. I don’t think we ever exchanged more than a passing hello in all that time. Read more: http://meangreenblog.dentonrc.com/2014/01/unt-makes-dl-coach-switch-official-now-for-some-thoughts.html/

DENTON, Texas – North Texas head coach Dan McCarney has announced the hiring of Kevin Patrick as the new defensive line coach. Patrick, who spent the last six seasons at South Florida, is one of the nation’s top recruiters and has produced three NFL draft picks, including first-rounder Jason Pierre-Paul who was the 15th overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft. “I am so thrilled to be able to add Kevin to our coaching staff,” said McCarney. “He has coached some of the best players in the nation on the defensive line and sent numerous guys to the NFL. He brings in a wealth of experience and will be a great addition to our program.” Patrick followed up McCarney as the defensive line coach at USF after McCarney went to Florida in 2008. He replaces Mike Nelson who is retiring after a five seasons with North Texas and a coaching career that spanned over 30 years. Nelson and McCarney coached a total of 13 seasons together at Iowa State and North Texas. “I’m very grateful for the opportunity to have coached with such a great person and teacher like Mike Nelson,” McCarney said. “He has been such a loyal person and I can’t thank him enough for all that he did at Iowa State with me and then again here with North Texas. He’s a great coach and one of the best in the business and we will all miss him.” While at South Florida, Patrick developed some of the top defensive lineman in the country. Pierre-Paul was a first-team All-American selection by Pro Football Weekly in 2009. Pierre-Paul was also named first-team all-conference by the BIG EAST coaches, ESPN, Rivals.com and the Sporting News along with second-team honors by Phil Steele. In addition to his work with Pierre Paul, Patrick’s defensive line unit included current Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman George Selvie and Houston Texans defensive tackle Terrell McClain. Under Patrick’s leadership, Selvie earned All-BIG EAST Second Team honors and was a seventh round draft pick by the St. Louis Rams in 2010. In 2007 McCarney coached Selvie in his sophomore season to a first-team All-American honor and Patrick coached Selvie in his junior season to another All-American season in 2008. McClain was a third round draft pick in 2011 by the Carolina Panthers after earning first-team All-BIG EAST honors his senior year at South Florida. In 2011, Patrick's tackles contributed to USF finishing second nationally in tackles for loss and fourth in sacks, while only allowing 107.3 rushing yards per game (15th NCAA). The Bulls were led by the tackle trio of Keith McCaskill, Cory Grissom and Elkino Watson, who combined for 6.5 sacks and 23 tackles for loss. In 2010, Patrick guided a unit that helped the defense rank 17th in total defense (317.9 ypg), 22nd in scoring defense (20.0 ppg) and 22nd in rushing defense (125.6 ypg). USF's defensive ends posted 21.5 of the Bulls' 25 sacks on the season in 2009, along with 37 tackles for loss. The defensive line anchored a defensive unit that finished second in the BIG EAST in scoring defense in 2009 and third in total defense led by Pierre-Paul. Patrick flourished during his first season back with the Bulls. He helped defensive end George Selvie repeat as a first team All-American and assisted a defensive unit that ranked No. 10 nationally in total defense. Patrick also reeled in a pair of national awards on the recruiting trail. Rivals named him one of the top 25 recruiters in America and the top recruiter in the BIG EAST in 2009. The acclaim came after four-star recruits Ryne Giddens, Jacquain Williams, Jason Pierre-Paul and Julius Forte inked with USF on National Signing Day. During his playing days, Patrick was an All-American defensive end at the University of Miami from 1989-93. He was a major contributor on the Hurricane team that claimed two National Championships with wins over Nebraska in the 1992 Orange Bowl and over Alabama in the 1990 Sugar Bowl. Patrick also played in the Cotton and Fiesta Bowls during his career. He is one of two individuals in the USF program that has earned BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year honors. Patrick claimed his in 1993, while two-time All-American George Selvie earned that honor in 2007. Patrick earned All-America honors and team MVP accolades in 1993, when he collected 10 sacks. During his career, he tallied 174 tackles and 23 sacks, which ranks fifth in program history. He graduated from Miami in 1994 with a degree in business administration. Patrick was a four-year letterwinner in football at Forest Hill High School in West Palm Beach, Fla., graduating in 1989. He also was a two-year letterwinner in track and field, throwing the shot put and discus his junior and senior years. Patrick and his wife Rachel have two daughters - Grace and Belle. Patrick’s Experience Collegiate Playing Experience: Four year letterwinner, defensive end, University of Miami Coaching Experience: South Florida, Defensive Ends, 1996-98 South Florida – Defensive Ends/Tackles/Line, 2008-13 NFL Proteges Jarriett Buie Tampa Bay Buccaneers Terrell McClain Houston Texans Jason Pierre-Paul New York Giants George Selvie Dallas Cowboys Read more: http://www.meangreensports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/012414aaa.html

http://meangreenblog.dentonrc.com/2014/01/regents-approve-mccarney-extension.html/

Seems to me like there would be an advantage to getting this wrapped up prior to signing day. I know if I was a player or family it would be reassuring to know that the head guy was going to be in Denton for a long, long time. Then again -- it could be that they already know this and it is simply dotting the i's and the t's of the contract at this point. The other variable is the timing of the new president. I believe he is slated to begin his tenure at UNT in February. They may be waiting to have his blessing and be a part of this. I just hope and pray that they give him a very competitive deal and it is inclusive of the assistant pool. It would be a great message for Mac to be able to tell recruits he plans on staying here until he retires.

Dan McCarney has no answers for the tragedies Iowa States football program has endured the past few years. The Cyclones once again are in mourning following news of former Iowa State star Jason Berrymans death this week. Berryman, 28, was found dead Wednesday in his Jefferson, Texas, home from what a police official believes to be multiple gunshot wounds. Berrymans death is the latest in a series of Cyclone football tragedies. In 2003, former running back Ennis Haywood died after ingesting alcohol, codeine and another drug. Read more: http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20140110/SPORTS020602/301100137/Dan-McCarney-on-Berryman-It-just-broke-my-heart-?Frontpage

A former Cyclone football star was found dead in his east Texas home, Wednesday. Police in Jefferson, Texas believe it was murder. KTBS reports that 28-year-old Jason Berryman’s body has been sent to Dallas for an autopsy. Berryman had a short but very troubled career at Iowa State. His former coach and teammates called Berryman, “one of the most gifted players they’ve ever seen.” There were two sides to Berryman. There was the Berryman who burst on the scene at Iowa State with 117 tackles as a true freshman. “A guy who could run down a receiver or a running back from behind that played the d-line position, the d-end,” said Todd Blythe, who played with Berryman from 2003-2005. That one was a legend on the practice field. “He’d outrun the defensive linemen,” his former coach, Dan McCarney said. ”I’d put him with the linebackers, he’d outrun the linebackers. I’d put him with the DB’s, he’d outrun the safeties. He was running with corners he was running with receivers…”But there was also the Berryman who spent 258 days in the Story County jail for theft and assault. “He said `man, I messed up, but when I get my chance, I’ll show people I’ve changed,” Curvey remembered. His skills too great to ignore, and Iowa State coach, Dan McCarney gave him a second chance. He recorded 5 ½ sacks in the 2005 Houston Bowl, his last game as a Cyclone. read more: http://whotv.com/2014/01/09/jason-berryman-talented-troubled-cyclone-remembered/

Former Iowa State football coach Dan McCarney led North Texas to its first bowl win in more than a decade (beating UNLV 36-14 in the Heart of Dallas Bowl). And according to ESPN blogger Richard Durrett, fans weren’t quite sure how to react. “Some of them contemplated rushing the field and in the end, maybe 500 of them decided to join the team in celebration at the 50-yard line, doing so in the most calm and orderly "storming" of a field you'll ever see.” Read more: http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20140106/SPORTS/301060083/0/NEWS01/?odyssey=nav|head

UNT fans will be talking about the Mean Green’s win over UNLV in the Heart of Dallas Bowl for years. The win — and the Mean Green’s breakout season in general — changed the course of the program. We will share our thoughts on how over the next few weeks/months. Before we do, we ought to stop to consider the legacy of UNT’s senior class. We wrote about it quite a bit in the days leading up to the Heart of Dallas Bowl and in the wake of UNT’s win in the paper. What we haven’t done is talk about it much on the blog — a place where we can be a little more opinionated. Read more: http://meangreenblog.dentonrc.com/2014/01/the-biggest-winners-in-unts-bowl-game-unts-seniors.html/

he season is over, but there is always something happening on the football front. Here are a few news items from the world of the Mean Green. – A UNT source said in the days leading up to the Mean Green’s win over UNLV in the Heart of Dallas Bowl that the school was in the final stages of completing a contract extension for Dan McCarney. A second source with direct knowledge of the situation said that the school and McCarney are close to finishing out the deal. Read more: http://meangreenblog.dentonrc.com/2014/01/sunday-afternoon-football-notes.html/

Count Dan McCarney among the Strong's many peers who aren't surprised he's pushed Louisville into the national spotlight. McCarney and Strong were assistant coaches at Florida under Urban Meyer. McCarney was defensive line coach for one of Meyer's national title wins, while Strong was UF's defensive coordinator during both of Meyer's national championship victories. "If you follow the lead of Charlie Strong, you have a chance to be special," said McCarney, who currently is the head football coach at North Texas. McCarney remembers introducing Strong as a speaker during a high school coaches clinic in Orlando. After praising Strong, McCarney wrapped up his comments with one simple request. "It's about damn time he was a head football coach, too," McCarney recalled telling the crowd. He said his words were met with boisterous applause and cheering from the crowd. Strong quickly proved he could handle the head coaching challenges at Louisville. During three-plus seasons, Strong led the Cardinals to a 31-14 record, including 11 wins last season and the program's first BCS bowl win since 2006. Read more: http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2013-10-16/sports/os-ucf-louisville-charlie-strong-1017-20131016_1_head-football-coach-title-game-urban-meyer

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Scott Murray: And now Ladies and Gentlemen, please welcome the head coach of the Heart of Dallas Bowl Champion The University of North Texas – Dan McCarney! *loud applause* Dan holds up trophy to big applause. Trophy looks heavy! Kisses trophy several times for the cameras. Sets trophy down and picks up microphone. Dan McCarney: Let me take this opportunity to thank the best fans in America, the Mean Green football fans! Yeah! How bout em! *loud applause* Time stands still for no one; we had to define how those guys were going to be remembered and led by these 22 seniors this Mean Green football team will be remembered forever as bowl champions…bowl champions..BOWL CHAMPIONS…*loud applause* I want to congratulate UNLV, Bobby Hauck – they’re a heck of a football team and it was an hopnor to play against the UNLV Rebels. How about a nice hand for UNLV! Let me just say this, this is not the end…it’s only a beginning. How about a great round of applause for these 22 seniors that led this season! 22 seniors yeah! Happy New Year, Go Mean Green and God Bless you! *loud applause* end

Does anyone have any video feed on the post game speech on the field. I have been looking for it to no avail........??? BTW- Shout out to 'adman' and his crew for sitting RIGHT behind us and their hilarious game commentary. My brother looked over at me at the beginning of the game and said, "Did you just hear them make a 'Dune' reference?? I knew I liked that guy." HA! After a REALLY rough week for our family- I don't think it was any coincidence that we went to the wrong section, sat down for over 30 minutes prior to kick off, then had a really big jerk tell us to move because we were in his seats and told to move, then ended up RIGHT in front of you guys. God's funny like that. We were cracking up most of the game and NEEDED that really bad. Enjoyed it, adman! Hope to see ya sooner than later!

Having had plenty of experience with hardship over the years, North Texas looked adversity in the eye on Wednesday afternoon and swatted it and UNLV aside. The Mean Green (9-4) of North Texas overcame a sluggish start but in the end celebrated its new age on New Year's Day with a new slogan: bowl champions. Game MVP Derek Thompson passed for 256 yards and two touchdowns on 21-of-30 passing, Brelan Chancellor scored two touchdowns rushing and North Texas' defense allowed only 70 yards in the second half of a 36-14 victory over UNLV (7-6) on Wednesdayat the Cotton Bowl. UNT outscored the worn-out Rebels 29-7 in dominating the second half of the second bowl victory in school history. "I dreamed of the day when I took this job that these seniors could go and win a bowl game," said UNT coach Dan McCarney, who in three seasons has turned around a program ranked near the bottom of FBS. "They are unbelievable examples of how you play the game and how you win a football game. "I think this is a program that's clearly on the rise." On Wednesday, they had to overcome bad penalties and two dropped would-be interceptions in the first half with a determined effort in the second half, starting with the defense forcing a three-and-out on the opening possession of the third quarter. Thompson then threw his first touchdown pass, to Drew Miller from 7 yards, to cap a 12-yard drive that gave UNT its first lead and an opening. Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2014/01/01/4724881/north-texas-puts-heart-into-bowl.html#storylink=cpy

DENTON, Texas (AP) - North Texas quarterback Derek Thompson can genuinely appreciate how far the Mean Green have come in his college career. Thompson's final game at North Texas will be on New Year's Day when the Mean Green play their first bowl game since 2004, against UNLV in the Heart of Dallas Bowl. North Texas (8-4) is wrapping up its third season under coach Dan McCarney. Read more: http://www.kltv.com/story/24308502/north-texas-impressive-transition-to-bowl-team

Charting the improvement North Texas has made under Dan McCarney starts by charting the improvement on defense. In his three years as head coach, the unit assigned with stopping the ball has made remarkable progress. Opponents scored nearly 31 points per game in McCarney's first season. That number dropped about a field goal in Year 2. Through 12 games this season, North Texas has allowed just 18.1 point - the school's best showing in 11 years. That ranked first in Conference USA and ninth in the country. The Mean Green allowed just 14.0 points in league games. North Texas gave up 10 or fewer points in four games going into the Heart of Dallas Bowl presented by PlainsCapital Bank on New Year's Day against UNLV. "Defensively we were in the bottom 10 in the country when I took this job three years ago," McCarney said. "Understand the leadership of John Skladany we've made dramatic improvement. We had to and needed to, and we've done that." Skladany (pictured) is entering his second season as defensive coordinator, ending a run of three defensive coordinators in three years. That consistency in message, plus the return of UNT's top-six tacklers from last season, proved the catalyst to such dramatic improvement across the board. North Texas is first nationally in Red Zone Defense (60.6 percent), 27th in total defensive (355.5 yards per game), 18th in rushing defense (125.1), 29th in passing efficiency defense (117.4), 14th in first downs allowed (17.7) and 15th in turnover margin (plus-0.8). Senior linebacker/team captain Zach Orr and senior safety Marcus Trice have earned plenty of headlines this season, and with good reason. Orr, an all-Conference USA selection, led UNT with 113 total tackles (51 unassisted) to rank 28th in the country. Trice led the team with five interceptions and eight pass breakups, and his 83 tackles rank third. "Zach Orr is our leader," McCarney said. "Marcus Trice has had an all-conference year as a safety. We have a lot of guys. We play a lot of guys and rotate and try and stay fresh. We've made some tremendous improvement on defense." North Texas ranked third in the country with 32 forced turnovers, and nabbed at least one takeaway in every game. The Mean Green had at least one interception in the last seven games and 10 of the last 11. UNT was 6-1 in games when winning the turnover battled and 0-2 with losing it. Though they may not get the same recognition as some of their more decorated teammates, the job done in the trenches can't be overlooked. Senior defensive end Aaron Bellazin led the squad with 7.5 sacks. The defense took down opposing quarterbacks 34 times, which was 18th nationally and the most at North Texas since 2002. "The defensive line is the most overlooked unit on our team," Orr said. "They are a big reason we are having success defensively. They are getting pressure on the quarterback and holding up against the run." If North Texas is fortunate enough to hold up the Heart of Dallas Bowl trophy at the Cotton Bowl Stadium, count on more than a few hands coming from the defense. Art Garcia, the Assistant Athletics Director for Communications for UT Arlington, has spent nearly 20 years as a sportswriter. He's worked for NBA.com, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, the San Antonio Express-News and the Bryan-College Station Eagle. Garcia has also written for FoxSportsSouthwest.com, ESPNDallas.com, CBSSports.com, in addition to other national websites and magazines.

I stopped by practice to talk to Dan McCarney and his players a couple of days ago and picked up a tidbit that has been talked about briefly and made its rounds a bit on Twitter. I hung on to it for a dead day — and this would qualify — to talk about it on the blog a little bit more. UNT had 51 players who finished with a 3.0 GPA or better and everyone on the Mean Green’s roster is eligible for the Heart of Dallas Bowl. Read more: http://meangreenblog.dentonrc.com/2013/12/unt-shines-academically-under-mccarney.html/

Rest assured, there isnt an ounce of dismay around UNLV today. Four years after he arrived from one of those deep fishing holes in Montana, the ones were he might stand in the middle of a blizzard to cast his line for a trout he most always would release, Bobby Hauck has led UNLV into somewhat uncharted waters. This is just the fourth time in program history the Rebels will go bowling and the first in nearly three decades they will do so in another state, thanks to a 7-5 record in which Haucks team won more games than the previous three years combined. The opponent is also one of college footballs feel-good stories of 2013, a program much like UNLV that has rebuilt itself from the ashes of obscurity. North Texas finished third in the West Division of Conference USA and won six of its last seven games. It seems like a good time, then, to learn a little about the Mean Green: ▶ The University of North Texas is located in Denton, near the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex between Oklahoma and Texas on Interstate 35. It lies on the southern end of what is commonly referred to as Tornado Alley, meaning Smatresk could move into his new house one day and be a modern-day Dorothy flying his way to Oz the next. Which I suppose would make Gerry Bomotti the Wicked Financial Witch of the East. ▶ You can drive from the middle of campus to Cotton Bowl Stadium in 50 minutes on a clear day, meaning the Mean Green should have a decided advantage in seats filled. Hauck on a conference call Sunday evening said he hopes North Texas brings all of Denton and any neighboring counties, because if one thing looks better on television than a New Years Day bowl, its one with actual people cheering it. Read more: http://www.reviewjournal.com/columns-blogs/ed-graney/believe-it-or-not-unlv-jan-1-bowl

Keep an eye on: Illinois. Fighting Illini administrators pondered pulling the plug on Tim Beckman last year, even discreetly making calls to see if coaches had any interest. Now, Illinois is struggling both on the field and the recruiting trail, and Saturday's ESPN broadcast of a 60-35 loss to Ohio State cast negativity on Beckman's future. A winless Big Ten season may force the program to make a move. However, Illinois may be worried that difficult admissions standards make the job unattractive. If the position becomes open, Michigan State defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi would get a long look. He's one of the country's most coveted assistants, and he already has Big Ten experience. (Amazing statistic working against him: 27 of the 32 head-coaching jobs that turned over last year went to candidates with offensive backgrounds.) Ohio State offensive coordinator Tom Herman could give the Illini an identity. If he moved the ball as the offensive coordinator at Iowa State, he could likely find similar success in Champaign. Perhaps North Dakota State's Craig Bohl would also be in the mix. Illinois hired the hot MAC coach last time, so it could pursue a similar strategy. Dan McCarney's strong season at North Texas, coupled with his Big Ten experience from Wisconsin, could also give him a shot. As for a dark horse, FCS Eastern Illinois' Dino Babers has flourished with a Baylor-like offense. Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/college-football/news/20131120/coach-hiring-firing-season-primer/#ixzz2lG6YbA7b