North Texas fires Dan McCarney after loss to Portland State
North Texas fired coach Dan McCarney in the hours after the team’s 66-7 loss to FCS-level Portland State.
North Texas (0-5) was down 45-0 at halftime.
“This is a really a tough decision, but after a complete evaluation of the University of North Texas football program, we have decided to make a change at head coach,” North Texas athletic director Rick Villarreal said in a statement. “I will always cherish my relationship with coach McCarney and he’s done nothing but great things for us in his time here, but we felt like this was the best thing we needed to do for the program moving forward.”
It’s of little consolation, but Portland State beat Washington State in Week 1. The Vikings piled up 670 yards of offense agains North Texas, including 368 yards rushing. The Vikings’ 302 pass yards came on just 13 completions while North Texas was 16-of-41 passing and averaged less than 3 yards per carry rushing.
“The people here at North Texas are great, we couldn’t have been embraced or supported any better during my time here,” McCarney said in a statement. “Obviously we have been really struggling lately, and Rick felt it was in his best interests with the University and the athletic department and the football program to go another direction. I will always be grateful to President Rawlins, Rick and President Smatresk for this opportunity.”
McCarney, 62, was in his fifth season at the school. The Mean Green went 9-4 in McCarney’s third year in 2013 (and the team’s first year in Conference USA) but regressed to 4-8 in 2014. McCarney leaves the school with a record of 22-32.
North Texas was his first coaching job since he parted ways with Iowa State following the 2006 season. His Iowa State teams went 7-5 and 4-4 in the Big 12 in 2004 and 2005 before falling to 4-8 in 2006.
– – – – – – –
Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter!