STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) - Oklahoma State has agreed to hire North Texas coach Eric Morris as its next football coach, pending board approval, the school announced Wednesday. Morris, who has led the Mean Green to a 10-1 record and a potential College Football Playoff berth, will replace Doug Meacham, who is 0-8 as interim coach.
The move comes less than six months after Mike Gundy was fired in September during his 21st season at oklahoma State.The Cowboys are 1-10 heading into their season finale against Iowa State. Morris’s hiring signals a shift toward an offensive focus for a program seeking to regain its footing in the Big 12.
Morris, a former receiver at Texas Tech under Mike Leach, has quickly turned North Texas into a national offensive powerhouse. The Mean Green currently rank as the nation’s top offense, averaging 503 total yards and 46.3 points per game, led by redshirt freshman quarterback Chandler Mestemaker, the nation’s leading passer with 3,469 yards. North Texas can secure a spot in the American Conference championship game with a win Friday against Temple and remains in contention for a Group of Five portrayal in the 12-team College Football Playoff.
Before arriving at North Texas, Morris served as offensive coordinator at Texas Tech during three seasons with Patrick mahomes as quarterback. He also coached current NFL prospect Ward at FCS Incarnate Word in his first head coaching role.
North texas athletic director Jared Mosley expressed gratitude for Morris’s contributions to the Mean Green program. “On behalf of the University of North Texas, I want to express our deep gratitude to Eric for everything he has done for Mean Green Football over the past three seasons,” Mosley said in a news release.
Morris will finish the season with North Texas.
