Oklahoma State has officially announced the hiring of Eric Morris, the head coach of North Texas, to take over its vacant coaching position. Morris boasts a record of 21-15 at North Texas, where he has engineered an impressive turnaround, leading the team to a 10-1 start this season. The Mean Green have the opportunity to secure a spot in the American Conference championship game with a victory against Temple this Saturday. Morris intends to fulfill his commitment to North Texas for the remainder of the season, which may include a potential bid for the College Football Playoff.
At 40 years old, Morris has made a significant impact throughout his coaching career, particularly in the development of prominent quarterbacks. He is known for mentoring stars like Patrick Mahomes during his time at Texas Tech, as well as cultivating talent such as Cam Ward at Incarnate Word and Washington State, John Mateer at Washington State, and Drew Mestemaker at North Texas. This year, the Mean Green have achieved remarkable scoring feats, amassing at least 50 points in six of their 11 games and leading the nation with an average of 46.3 points per game.
Despite facing budget constraints, with North Texas operating with a roster budget of approximately $2 million—significantly lower than some rivals in the conference—Morris has successfully positioned the team at the top of the American Conference standings. His coaching experience is extensive; he played at Texas Tech under the legendary Mike Leach from 2004 to 2008 and later joined Leach’s staff at Washington State in 2012. After a stint back at Texas Tech under Kliff Kingsbury, he became the head coach at FCS Incarnate Word in 2018, transforming it into a top program before his brief tenure as Washington State’s offensive coordinator and eventually landing at North Texas.
Morris was also considered for coaching positions at prestigious programs such as Arkansas and UCLA. His Texas connections and adept offensive strategies made him an ideal candidate for Oklahoma State, which was seeking a fit to replace Mike Gundy. With Morris now heading to Oklahoma State, the future circumstances surrounding quarterback Drew Mestemaker remain in the spotlight, as the potential for high-profile transfer opportunities could beckon.
As North Texas begins its search for a new head coach, several prominent names have emerged as potential replacements. These include Clemson offensive coordinator Garrett Riley, Texas State head coach GJ Kinne, Oregon running backs coach Ra’Shaad Samples, TCU offensive coordinator Kendal Briles, Baylor offensive coordinator Jake Spavital, Miami offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson, as well as current staff members like defensive coordinator Skyler Cassity and special teams coordinator Drew Svoboda.
This transition marks a new chapter for Oklahoma State as they aim to build on their football program’s legacy with the addition of a dynamic and proven coach.