Football

Entering his fourth year at North Texas, Todd Dodge knows that the time to win is now. Despite many indications of a program on the rise, Dodge knows that wins and losses is the only measurement of success that anyone is interested in this season.

Despite fielding a team that set a school record with 4,904 yards of total offense in 2009 and leading the Mean Green to its best three-year run in offensive performance, Dodge will have to have his team convert yards into points and points into wins.    The signs are all there.  North Texas improved its scoring average by nearly seven points per game while decreasing its points allowed by 12 points per game in 2009.  The Mean Green lost six games by a total of 24 points (4.0 points per game) and lost five games after holding a fourth-quarter lead.  North Texas outgained seven of its 12 opponents in total offense last season, but won only two of those games.    

Dodge believes he added the final piece of the puzzle during the off season when he complimented his coaching staff with two veteran coaches who carry outstanding credentials.  Offensive coordinator Mike Canales and wide receiver coach Conroy Hines bring over 43 years of combined college coaching experience to the Mean Green offense in 2010.  Canales is thought of as one of the most innovative offensive coaches in the country, having led successful programs at South Florida, Arizona and North Carolina State.     

With the realization that his legacy will be measured in terms of wins and losses, Dodge has placed a much larger liability on himself as a college football coach.  He has not forgone the less-familiar notion that he is accountable to young student-athletes and their families for developing more than just football players.  It's bigger than that to Dodge.  He feels a responsibility to teach.  He teaches an approach that transcends the gridiron and helps football players prepare for challenges in life.

Dodge has placed an emphasis on academic progress.  According to the NCAA Academic Progress Rate, (the standard measure for college athletics academic success) Dodge inherited a program that continually fell below the minimum academic standard of 925 which carried historic penalties.  Since his arrival, Dodge has improved his single-year APR score every year, including a 60-point rise in the most recent year, which was the best single-year improvement in the NCAA that year.  Dodge has helped his team improve its yearly APR score from 907 in his first year, to 913 in the second year and 973 in the most recent year.     

One of the best success stories during the Dodge era will always be of wide receiver Casey Fitzgerald.  Fitzgerald came to North Texas as a walk-on and spent his first two seasons in obscurity while seeing little action in a run-based offense.  In his first year of Dodge's offense, Fitzgerald broke every North Texas single-season receiving record and after just two years in his system, he is now the school's all-time leading receiver with 229 career catches (224 in his final two years under Dodge).       

Dodge, 46, officially assumed control of the North Texas football program on Dec. 26, 2006 - three days after he had coached his Southlake Carroll High School football team to its fourth state championship in five years.  As one of the most widely respected high school football coaches in the nation, Dodge led Southlake Carroll to a 79-1 record over his final five years, with the only loss coming by a single point in the 2003 state championship game.  Dodge closed his high school career with an amazing 48-game winning streak.    

Part of the attraction to North Texas for Dodge was the history of success. The Mean Green dominated the Sun Belt Conference from 2001-2004, winning four straight championships and posting an amazing 25-1 conference record during that time. After fleeting success in 2005 and 2006 Dodge was hired to help secure the foundation and restore the program to its winning ways.

Dodge had already been familiar with the Mean Green, having served as an offensive assistant coach in 1992 and 1993. During his tenure he helped direct the Mean Green offense to a per-game average of 348 yards and 26 points. He oversaw the progression of quarterback Mitch Maher, who holds numerous Mean Green offensive records, including pass completions, passing yards, and total offense. Maher went on to play for the Canadian Football Leagues' Shreveport Pirates.

Prior to coming to North Texas, Dodge's name had become synonymous with high school football success on the national scale. In addition to winning four class 5A state championships in five years, Southlake Carroll was recognized as national champions by USA Today in 2004 and 2006, and by PrepNation.com in 2005. Dodge amassed a 98-11 record overall at Carroll after taking over in 2000. In 2005, the Dragons set the Texas 5A state record for most points in a single season by tallying 764.

Dodge was named National Coach of the Year by Schutt Sports in 2004 and by USA Today in 2005. In 2006 PrepNation.com named him the Southwest Region coach of the year. 

The last six winners of the Texas 5A Player of the Year have all been shaped by Dodge, including his son Riley who won the award in 2006 and 2007 and joined his dad at North Texas in 2008. Also on that list are Chase Daniel of Missouri, Greg McElroy of Alabama and Chase Wasson of Oklahoma. 

Overall, Dodge has witnessed the signing of more than 22 of his players to NCAA Div. I athletic scholarships in his time as a high school head coach.

A former starting quarterback for the University of Texas, Dodge threw for 2,791 yards and 18 touchdowns during his time in Austin. He still ranks ninth in both categories on the Longhorn's all-time leaders list. His 96-yard touchdown pass against Rice in 1985 is tied for the second-longest play in UT's history.

After graduating from Texas, Dodge served as offensive coordinator at Rockwall and McKinney High Schools. While coaching quarterbacks at Rockwall, he helped lead the Yellow Jackets to an appearance in the state's title game. He also helped McKinney reach the state quarterfinals in 1991. After his stint at North Texas, Dodge served as head coach at Cameron's C.H. Yoe High School from 1994-96.

Dodge is married to the former Elizabeth Neptune, who is the daughter of longtime Austin Westlake coach and administrator Ebbie Neptune.  Elizabeth is also a graduate of the University of North Texas.  Todd and Elizabeth are the parents of Riley (18) and Molly (15).