McCarney has four staff spots filled, maybe fifth

New UNT coach Dan McCarney hasn't made a formal announcement, but Western Kentucky's Clint Bowen, who spent more than at decade as an assistant at Kansas before working as WKU's DC this season, will be UNT's new DC when all the paperwork clears, according to a source. Bowen also has knowledge of special teams, having coached those units for several years, in addition to tight ends, running backs and safeties at some point. He was co-defensive coordinator at KU in 2006 and 2007 and was promoted to the top DC job in 2008. WKU hired him in 2010 after Kansas made a coaching change.

Based on Bowen's resume, he seems like a solid choice, but I wouldn't exactly say he's a proven, seasoned DC. But youth is good to bring along in college coaching, and it's paying dividends for several programs. As for new OL coach Justin Frye, McCarney didn't have to look far, but you can't help but wonder about Frye's youth with UNT graduating so many guys up front.

The source also confirmed that McCarney has hired Frye to coach the OL. He was a player at Indiana as recently as 2006. He spent two seasons (2007, 2008) at IU as a graduate assistant before joining the staff at Florida as an intern/offense in 2009. Basically, his job for two years at Florida has been to assist offensive line coach Steve Addazio, who coached Frye at IU and helped him land the UF intern position. This is Frye's first real coaching job. Either he really has something as a coach despite the inexperience, or someone on McCarney's staff has to be the designated cheap hire, and he's it. Maybe both.

As for the other hires, you already know UNT interim coach Mike Canales was retained as associate HC/offense/quarterbacks, and defensive line coach Mike Nelson is also staying. Both are out recruiting this week.

UNT receivers coach Conroy Hines is still in a "maybe" phase as far as his status. Canales and Hines really clicked as offensive coaches for UNT, and Canales wants him to stay. McCarney apparently has at least another candidate in mind, but he's not opposed to Hines staying if the job were to fall to him.

If Hines stays, that leaves staff spots still open at running backs, tight ends, linebackers, safeties, cornerbacks and special teams if Bowen doesn't handle those duties, which could be a remote possibility.