Nearly four weeks after firing Dan McCarney, North Texas is heating things up when it comes to finding a replacement.
Citing an unnamed university official, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram is reporting that UNT interviewed Oklahoma offensive coordinator Lincoln Riley for the head-coaching vacancy earlier this week. It’s unknown if the 32-year-old Riley is the first candidate to interview for the job.
Riley is in his first season as the Sooners’ coordinator. OU is currently seventh in the country in scoring (45.6 points per game) and eighth in total offense (532.5 yards per game). Last year they were 20th (36.2 ppg) and 24th (465 ypg), respectively, in those two categories.
Riley isn’t the only Big 12 coordinator that will draw interest as the Star-Telegram writes that the school “is also expected to inquire about the interest of TCU co-offensive coordinators Doug Meacham or Sonny Cumbie.” Arizona State offensive line coach Chris Thomsen and Texas A&M offensive coordinator Jake Spavital are also believed to be on the list of candidates from which the Mean Green will find a replacement.
None of those mentioned have been head coaches at the FBS level.
UPDATED 6:52 p.m. ET: In a statement, and while he didn’t deny an interview, Riley claimed that he is not a candidate for the UNT job.
“I understand that reports have linked my name to the head coaching vacancy at North Texas. I am absolutely not a candidate for that position. I am focused on only one thing -- helping the OU Sooners win a conference championship.”