North Texas fires defensive coordinator after allowing 681 yards in 4th straight loss

DENTON, Texas – North Texas fired defensive coordinator Matt Caponi on Saturday, a day after the Mean Green allowed 681 total yards while losing their fourth straight game.

The Mean Green lost 48-27 at UTSA, which became the fourth consecutive opponent with a 150-yard rusher against them on Friday night.

Caponi was in his second season as UNT’s defensive coordinator. Linebackers coach Brian Odom was named interim defensive coordinator for the remainder of this season.

North Texas (5-5), which must win one of its final two games to become bowl eligible, has allowed 159 points in its four-game losing streak. That’s just under 40 points per game, and that even includes a 14-3 home loss to undefeated No. 16 Army last week.

“We believe a change on defense is needed at this time to help the team make a strong push toward earning a bowl game berth,” second-year UNT head coach Eric Morris said.

The Mean Green are one of the best offensive teams in the American Athletic Conference, averaging 35.6 points and 498.4 total yards per game. But they also allowed a worse 458.1 yards per game and 35.7 points, ranking them 12th among the 14 teams entering Saturday’s games.

UNT plays its home finale against East Carolina next Saturday and then plays at Temple on Nov. 30.

Odom is in his first season at North Texas after two seasons at Southern Cal as associate head defensive coach and inside linebacker coach. He previously served as interim defensive coordinator at Oklahoma and USC.