Blog Article
Eric Morris Was Exciting. Neal Brown Will Be Reliable.
Here’s Why That’s Actually What North Texas Needs.
Neal Brown isn’t a splash hire.
He’s something better for North Texas: a proven program builder who’s already won at this level. While Eric Morris brought schematic creativity and tempo that excited fans, Brown brings a decade of head-coaching experience, 72 wins, and a track record of sustained success that Morris hadn’t yet established. UNT isn’t trading up in the ceiling, they’re trading up in the floor.
That distinction matters more than most fans realize.
At Troy, Brown Was One of the Best G5 Coaches in America
Brown’s numbers at the Group of Five level are elite.
At Troy from 2015-2018, he went 35-16 (.686) with three consecutive 10-win seasons from 2016-18. During that stretch, his .790 winning percentage trailed only Nick Saban and Dabo Swinney among all FBS coaches. He won the Sun Belt title, earned Coach of the Year honors, and went a perfect 3-0 in bowl games—never losing a postseason contest at Troy.
Brown’s Career Splits
| Split | Career | Troy | West Virginia |
| Overall Record | 72-52 (.581) | 35-16 (.686) | 37-36 (.507) |
| Bowl Games | 5-2 (.714) | 3-0 (1.000) | 2-2 (.500) |
| Late Season | 23-14 (.622) | 11-4 (.733) | 12-10 (.545) |
| vs. Ranked | 4-21 (.160) | 1-3 (.250) | 3-18 (.143) |
| Road Record | 28-20 (.583) | 15-6 (.714) | 13-14 (.481) |
The Troy column is what matters for UNT – and those numbers are excellent.
West Virginia Was Harder, But He Never Lost the Locker Room
Yes, Brown struggled in Morgantown.
His 37-36 record over six seasons at West Virginia is mediocre by any standard. The 3-18 mark against ranked opponents is genuinely brutal—a number that reflects the reality of competing in the Big 12 without the resources of Texas or Oklahoma. His teams lost close games they should have won and got blown out in games they had no business being in.
But here’s what the WVU tenure reveals: Brown maintained program stability in a difficult environment. He never had a collapse season. He bounced back to 9-4 in 2023 after two rough years. His teams played hard until the end, and he kept the locker room together when other coaches would have lost the building.
The question is whether WVU exposed Brown’s ceiling, or simply showed what happens when a strong G5 coach faces P5 realities.
Less Tempo, More Balance, Fewer Explosive Plays
The identity shift will be noticeable.
Morris brought a fast, QB-centric Air Raid variant that stressed defenses with tempo. Games were high-scoring, sometimes chaotic, and the week-to-week volatility was part of the package. Brown runs an Air Raid-influenced system too, but his version is more balanced, more methodical, and more willing to lean on the running game.
Expect inside zone, duo, counter, and designed QB runs alongside the mesh concepts and quick game. Brown uses tight ends and H-backs as blockers, not just receivers. His offenses frustrate defenses with efficiency and third-down conversions rather than explosive chunk plays.
The tempo will slow. The risk profile will shrink. The emphasis will shift from outscoring opponents to outexecuting them.
UNT fans trading in a Ferrari for a well-maintained pickup truck – less flash, more reliability.
His Teams Are Tough, and They Finish Strong
Brown’s best teams were defined by toughness and accountability.
His Troy teams played physical, assignment-sound defense. They didn’t beat themselves with procedural mistakes. They trusted the punt, played field position, and understood that complementary football wins G5 conference titles. His stated UNT vision,” fast, physical, tough, disciplined,” isn’t coach-speak.
That 11-4 late-season record at Troy (.733) tells you something important: his teams finished. They didn’t fade in November. They got better when it mattered most.
That’s not a small thing.
Expect Bowl Games Most Years, Conference Titles When It Clicks
Here’s what UNT fans should reasonably expect:
Ceiling: Brown has already proven he can build a 10-win G5 program when the roster, quarterback, and staff align. He did it at Troy. With UNT’s recent momentum and portal access, conference titles and Top 25 seasons over a 3-5 year window are realistic targets.
Floor: His track record suggests bowl-level competence most years, with fewer 3-9 crater seasons than many “system” hires risk. Expect tighter games, better situational football, and a more reliable product than Morris—especially once Brown has a full roster cycle in Denton.
That floor-raising ability is exactly why UNT hired him.
He’s a Stabilizer, Not a Savior, And That’s Exactly Right
Neal Brown is a stabilizer hire, not a savior hire.
He won’t generate the same excitement as Morris. He won’t run up video-game scores. He won’t make your offense appointment television. But he also won’t have the program lurching between 10-win potential and 5-win reality from year to year. He knows how to build something sustainable at this level – and he’s done it before.
For a program that just lost its coach to a bigger job, that continuity and competence matters. UNT isn’t trying to become the next Cincinnati or Boise State overnight. They’re trying to become a consistent winner in the American Athletic Conference.
Neal Brown is built for exactly that.
