Notes from Neal Brown's Introductory Press Conference

Alignment and "ballin' on a budget"

“We might have to ball on a smaller budget but we’ll still ball.”

“The relentless pursuit of better.”

“Develop Men”

“Graduate our Student Athletes — place them in a career field and the NFL”

“Win Championships — We’ll win an American Conference championship and we’ll play in the CFP. When, not if.”

“We’ll be disciplined and accountable, tough, and be committed to each other and to the UNT brand.”

Neal Brown stepped to the mic and gave his pitch for his vision of North Texas football. Fast, physical, tough, discipline. It’s cliché but that’s only because those are the fundamentals of football. Jared Mosley said “This game is hard enough, you don’t want to work with people who are difficult, too.”

He called the search different in “depth and quality” of individuals involved and wanted this opportunity. He said Neal Brown’s ability to articulate his vision and his reputation in the industry — and especially among some of his contacts (read: Wren Baker) was the thing that set him apart.

Brown talked up the “fertile” recruiting area of Dallas-Fort Worth, and the “alignment” of the board of regents, the athletic department, and the program and it being “well-resourced within the league.” He laid out his vision for being present in the community, with the students, and the community and being visible to create “intentional and unintentional connections.” He said he, his wife Brooke, and his staff expect to be around the community and around campus.

He called the University of Texas experience both “Validating” and “a learning experience.” He said the things done at UT were some of the same that he had done previously, so it made him feel good. It was also an opportunity to learn from other programs. He mentioned Hal Mumme, (future College hall of famer) Larry Blakeney, and Senator Tuberville for influences.

He talked up his Troy experience, and the positive impact of his time at West Virginia — second most wins, challenging landscape, and more.

When asked about why he chose the area, he called DFW “one of the best places to live in the entire area.”

When asked about talking with the team, “I have met with the team, a short meeting this morning” and discussed how the 2025 team is still in-season and is not a team “I’m on.” and that he “wants to just be around those guys and build relationships.” He wants to recruit the current team, then start recruiting the high schools — “we’ll stay in Texas and maybe a little Oklahoma.”

The plan is to attempt to recruit the current players but there has to be a financial commitment, and if they leave? “I consider that a marketing piece for us to get another guy.”

He said he has had conversations with Eric Morris, who he felt “has a deep respect for North Texas Football and wants to leave in the right way.” He said he will talk with Morris about the staff, who “I’m sure a lot of those guys will want to go with him to Oklahoma State and rightfully so.”

He will start adding staff — but doesn’t want to rush it. He called it a puzzle and that he wants the right guys, with connections to Texas, and North Texas in particular. He’ll add some “foundational pieces” soon, like a GM, offensive line coach and the rest.

When asked about the QB — “No pressure, right? Mason Fine, Chandler Morris, Drew…” he talked up the value of having DFW as a home base and “we’ll have options and it is important to choose the right one.”

Jared Mosley said that in the next 24 hours he will have some news on the interim situation. The original intention was for Eric Morris to continue to coach — especially if the CFP was on the docket. “Now that the bowl is a little later we’ll see about letting him be more engaged there and figure out an interim situation here.”

MGN’s Take

Neal Brown can certainly talk a good game at the podium. He said he “will” win a championship here and well, he certainly had done that before at Troy. He was masterful at maneuvering questions to his talking points and displayed an enthusiasm toward the program, the community, and for the possibilities.

The coaching change is — in football at least — one of the most pleasant transitions. The last three men were fired, or just about fired. North Texas is currently 11-2 and has a bowl game so the vibes are certainly different. Brown talked up his offense and all the normal coaching clichés. To my ears, the “special teams are an opportunity.” talk was musical. North Texas has been mostly fine-to-bad on special teams, and they can certainly be a PLUS. We don’t need to be Frank Beamer-era Virginia Tech out here, but it would be nice to get some field-flipping happening instead of muffed punts.

The things we wanted to know:

• The plan for recruiting the current roster — We got it, he’s engaged but I think he is also resigned to the fact that basically Eric Morris has all the advantages in the recruiting war — resources, relationships, and opportunity.

• The plan for the staff — he mentioned finding guys with North Texas ties (Patrick Cobbs?) he mentioned some foundational pieces, and meeting the current staff. He said he would talk with Morris about currents staffers. The reports are that most of Morris’ guys will go with him to OSU — but that’s most definitely Brophy & Davis. It isn’t as certain that the position coaches would go. Cassity was reported as leaving and he brought his staff from SHST but I’m sure a couple of guys could be convinced to stay for the right incentive.

• (related to above) Will Morris continue — it seemed strange if it was a bowl game that he would coach it with his current duties in Stillwater, so Mosley dropping some strong hints that the interim path would be the one NT would pursue makes sense. Who would that be?

What we expect:

• Mestemaker, Young, Coleman to leave. Hawkins probably, but not certainly.

• The staff to mostly follow Morris.

• Brown to bring in “his” guys at the important spots, with a mixture of local-knowledge guys to supplement. Complementary guys.