Former West Virginia HC Neal Brown to Take Over at North Texas

Former WVU head coach Neal Brown will be back roaming a college football sideline. After serving on the Texas staff in 2025, Brown has landed a new head coach opportunity, one that won’t requite him to move states again.

Brown will take over as the new head coach of North Texas. This returns Brown to the Group of 5 level, but places him at one of the most successful non Power Four programs. North Texas finished the 2025 regular season 11-1 and in first place in the American Conference and a birth in the conference’s championship game. Former Mean Green head coach Eric Morris left North Texas for the Oklahoma State job.

While national reporters like Pete Thamel are saying it’s close, WV Sports Now can confirm through a source that Brown to North Texas is happening. Brown will reportedly sign a five-year deal, per Thamel.

Not that it's really necessary now, but I can confirm this is 100% happening through a source close to Neal Brown. https://t.co/cnbkfKedky

— Mike J. Asti (@MikeAsti11) December 2, 2025

WVSN has also heard through sources close to Brown that he would only take a Group of 5 job if he felt the situation was perfect, both in location and program.

Despite everyone linking Neal Brown to every possible G5 opening, I always heard through sources close to him that he would only take a G5 job if he felt it was the perfect fit, both in location and program.

North Texas does feel like that for Brown.

— Mike J. Asti (@MikeAsti11) December 2, 2025

Brown turned down a couple head coach offers from Group of 5 level programs last year and was in rumors to be the offensive coordinator at Ohio State and Virginia Tech, although WV Sports Now can confirm through a source the Virginia Tech rumors were wildly exaggerated.

“I want to coach, I think there are a lot of positives from a personal perspective and professionally,” Brown said about his future soon after being fired by WVU. “And there are some really good jobs open. There are jobs that are resourced well in leagues that you can go win. My anticipation is that I will (be a head coach) but time will tell.”

After success at Troy, which included three-straight 10 plus-win seasons and a staple victory over LSU, WVU hired Brown to be the program’s 35 the head coach in 2019.

WVU head coach Neal Brown after beating UNC in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C. on Dec. 27, 2023. (WVSN photo by Mitchell Northam)

WVSN photo by Kelsie LeRose

Unfortunately for Brown, he was never able to achieve anything close to that with West Virginia. The Mountaineers went 37-35 in six seasons under Brown with three bowl game appearances. The high point of Brown’s tenure was a nine-win 2023 season that finished with a victory in the Duke’s Mayo Bowl over North Carolina.

Find more coverage of Neal Brown at WV Sports Now.