Mike Canales named interim head football coach
North Texas freshman running back A.J. Ezzard (32) celebrates after scoring a touchdown againt Rice on September 19th. Dylan Nadwodny | Intern Photographer
Brady Keane | Staff Writer
North Texas has named offensive coordinator Mike Canales interim head football coach effective immediately. Former head coach Dan McCarney was fired moments after the Mean Green’s 66-7 loss to Portland State University on Saturday.
An ESPN report late Saturday night stated Canales would serve as co-interim head coach along with defensive coordinator Chris Cosh, but a source told the North Texas Daily that athletic director Rick Villarreal was convinced to proceed with only one head coach instead.
Canales is in his sixth season as the offensive coordinator and quarterback coach for the Mean Green. He led the offense to record heights in 2013, when the Mean Green racked up over 5,000 total yards and averaged over 400 yards per game offensively.
Canales also served as the interim head coach for the final five games of the 2010 season after Todd Dodge was relieved as head coach. He led the Mean Green to a 2-3 record while at the helm after the team opened the season 1-6.
Villarreal said he had been mulling the decision to part ways with McCarney since the Mean Green lost to Iowa University 62-16 two weeks ago. North Texas has been outscored 177-37 since losing its home opener to Rice University on Sept. 26. The 59-point loss to Portland State set an FBS record for largest margin of defeat to an FCS team.
Villarreal said a national search for McCarney’s full-time replacement will begin immediately.
Scott Sidway, Sports Editor for the North Texas Daily, contributed to this story.
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