North Texas has fired head coach Seth Littrell after seven seasons, the school announced Sunday. Here’s what you need to know:

• North Texas defensive coordinator Phil Bennett will be the interim head coach for the Mean Green’s bowl game, according to a source close to the program.
• Littrell’s coaching record at North Texas was 44-44.
• North Texas went 7-6 during 2022 and will play Boise State in the Frisco Bowl on Dec. 17.

Evaluating Littrell’s tenure at North Texas

Littrell had far from a poor tenure at UNT, but it wasn’t a great one either. With the money put into the program with facilities and salaries and the upcoming move to the American Athletic Conference next year, the ceiling for this program is higher than where it is. Littrell reached six bowl games in seven years (two with a losing record), but hadn’t won more than seven games since 2018.

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The Mean Green started 1-6 last season, but won their final five games to get to a bowl game. At one point across 2021 and 2022, UNT had won 10 of 11 C-USA games. But it also lost 48-10 to future conference-mate SMU and lost 48-27 in the C-USA championship game. This can be a very good job, and school leadership wants someone who will take it there. — Vannini

While North Texas was competitive within C-USA, there were some troubling trends developing in recent years.

The Mean Green have gone 0-10 in the last four seasons against FBS nonconference opponents. Their last such win came at Arkansas on Sept. 15, 2018. The Mean Green also went 0-5 in bowls and 0-2 in conference championship games. Since the start of Littrell’s tenure in 2016, the Mean Green went 5-19 overall against FBS nonconference opponents and 14-20 against future AAC opponents.

Since 2019, North Texas is 3-17 against FBS teams who ended the season with winning records. — Khan

Potential head coaching candidates

This job will get a lot of interest because of its location, facilities and investment. Potential names to watch include former Virginia Tech head coach Justin Fuente, TCU offensive coordinator Garrett Riley and Washington State offensive coordinator Eric Morris. But it’s also notable that athletic director Wren Baker left for West Virginia last week. — Vannini

What they’re saying

North Texas president Neal Smatresk released the following statement Sunday regarding Littrell:

“After a thorough assessment of our football program, we decided to make a change in the leadership of our football program, effective immediately. We appreciate the many positive contributions Coach Littrell has made to our program. He has led the team with integrity and class, and we wish him and his family nothing but the best in the future.”

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Smatresk also announced that Jared Mosley would be North Texas’ interim athletic director:

“Jared has experience leading an athletics department and has a strong track record at UNT. I am confident in his ability to lead the department during this time of transition.”

Required reading

(Photo: Chuck Cook / USA Today)

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