The Zeitgeist List · coaching

North Texas: a football coaching history

Regional Program III#100 of 138–
See North Texas’s full 91-year Zeitgeist History →
← all coaches
Program GOAT
Rod Rust
Peaked at National Program III
Built by
Rod Rust
Regional Program IV → National Program III (+13.8)
The fall
Todd Dodge
Regional Program V → Regional Program VI (−4.5)
Right now
Neal Brown
in year 1 — too new to place in North Texas's history

Stature & coaches, 1953–2026

The program’s standing over time, with every coach’s tenure beneath it — read down to see who was there for each rise and fall.

program stature (★ = Dynasty-tier season)MitchellRustFryDickeyDodgeMcCarneyLittrell1960198020002020

Every coach

2026–now
Neal Brownshort tenure
0–0
2025–2025
Drew Svobodashort tenure
1–0
2023–now
Eric Morriscaretaker🏆 COY
Eric Morris moved North Texas from Regional Program IV to Regional Program III in 3 seasons.
Regional Program III
22–16
2022–2022
Phil Bennettshort tenure
0–1
2016–2022
Seth Littrellcaretaker
Seth Littrell moved North Texas from Regional Program V to Regional Program IV in 7 seasons.
Regional Program IV
44–44
2011–2015
Dan McCarneycaretaker
Dan McCarney moved North Texas from Regional Program VI to Regional Program V in 5 seasons.
Regional Program V
22–32
2010–2010
Mike Canalesshort tenure
2–3
2007–2010
Todd Dodgecaretaker
Todd Dodge held North Texas at Regional Program V for 4 seasons.
Regional Program V
6–37
1998–2006
Darrell Dickeycaretaker
Darrell Dickey moved North Texas from Regional Program V to Regional Program IV in 9 seasons.
Regional Program IV
42–64
1995–1997
Matt Simoncaretaker
Matt Simon held North Texas at Regional Program V for 3 seasons.
Regional Program V
11–22
1982–1982
Corky Nelsonshort tenure
2–9
1981–1981
Bob Tylershort tenure
2–9
1979–1980
Jerry Mooreshort tenure
11–11
1973–1978
Hayden Frycaretaker
Hayden Fry moved North Texas from Regional Program II to National Program III in 6 seasons.
National Program III
38–25
1967–1972
Rod Rustbuilder
Rod Rust raised North Texas from Regional Program IV to National Program III.
+13.8
29–32
1953–1966
Odus Mitchellcaretaker
Odus Mitchell held North Texas at National Program III for 14 seasons.
National Program III
69–63