Our print magazine went to press during the NIT, but we’re elated to report our men’s basketball team won the title. Go Mean Green!
The North Texas men's basketball team captured a spot in the 2023 National Invitation Tournament, capping off a season in which they racked up 26 wins -- the most regular season victories in program history.
In a first, the team made a national postseason tournament for the third year in a row. They also boasted the nation's No. 1 scoring defense at 55.4 points.
Junior guard Tylor Perry (pictured with the Mean Green Maniacs) was named Conference USA Player of the Year and earned spots on the Conference USA First Team All-Conference and C-USA All-Tournament Teams. Senior guard Kai Huntsberry snagged the title of C-USA Newcomer of the Year. Junior guard Rubin Jones took a place in the C-USA All-Defensive Team. Junior forward Abou Ousmane was named to the third-team all-conference.
In women's basketball, junior Quincy Noble was named for the third time to the All-Conference Team, becoming only the second UNT player to earn that distinction. With an average of 17.1 points per game, she was the third highest scoring player in C-USA.
The softball team made their pitch as one of the top teams in Conference USA and in the nation.
The team earned a spot in the D1 Softball Preseason Top 25 -- a first for the team, which came in at No. 24.
Junior first baseman Kailey Gamble set a UNT record by reaching 10 home runs in the fewest number of games. She accomplished the feat in 19 games, eclipsing the previous mark of 26 games set by Kelli Schkade ('17) in 2016 and Taylor Schoblocher ('16) in 2015.
Last year, the team appeared for the first time in the NCAA Regionals and won their first Conference USA Championship.
The women's golf team, led by graduate student Audrey Tan ('22), put in a record-breaking performance at the ICON Invitational tournament at the Golf Club of Houston in February. Tan broke her own 54-hole scoring record, earning Conference USA Player of the Week honors. The team, ranked No. 50 in the Golfstat poll, came in second place, defeating 10 teams ranked higher.
In other golf news, Sandra Palmer ('63) is scheduled to be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in June 2024. Palmer racked up 19 victories during her 30-year career on the Ladies Professional Golf Association Tour.
Well, 58-03.75 feet, to be precise, is the distance freshman KeAyla Dove covered in the shot put, a Mean Green record. She competed in the NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships in March and was runner-up in the Conference USA Championships in February. Also at the meet, freshman Marta Sivina won the women's pentathlon.
Just as UNT prepares to make its move to the American Athletic Conference, Jared Mosley (pictured at right) was appointed vice president and director of athletics, and Eric Morris (center, next to UNT President Neal Smatresk) was named head football coach.
Mosley, the 15th director of athletics in UNT history, brings 20 years of experience in athletics administration and leadership. He previously served as associate vice president and chief operating officer at UNT, as well as sport program administrator for both men's and women's basketball while assisting with football and handling scheduling for the football program.
Before joining UNT, he served as chief executive officer and president of the Texas Sports Hall of Fame, as well as director of athletics and associate athletic director at Abilene Christian University.
"We have accomplished much in recent years, but we need all of Mean Green Nation pulling in the same direction to help take our department to even greater heights," Mosley says.
Morris, the 20th football coach in North Texas history, previously served as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Washington State in 2022.
"As a native Texan, I understand the pride and standard of Mean Green football and I am humbled to be able to lead this storied program," Morris says.
