North Texas on Thursday confirmed Mike Bloesch will be the Mean Green's offensive coordinator in 2021. Bloesch came aboard in 2020 as offensive line and co-offensive coordinator.
"Coach Bloesch has earned this opportunity," head coach Seth Littrell said. "He was such a big part of our success offensively last season and is one of the brightest young offensive minds in the country. I'm very excited to see him continue to build on the foundation we have here to become more explosive and efficient offensively."
The Mean Green revamped their offensive attack in 2020 to much success. With Littrell as play-caller and Bloesch and Tommy Mainord as co-coordinators, UNT soared from 59th to 22nd in yards per play and from 52nd to 23rd in scoring, an increase of 3.8 points per game.
"I absolutely am enjoying calling plays,” Littrell told the Denton Record-Chronicle in November. "I’m having a blast with this group and this coaching staff. I have said it. You are not going to be able to be successful calling plays if you don’t have a great staff around you. You can’t see everything, especially if you are on the field."
The move will provide continuity for the offense while presumably allowing Littrell to greater oversee another rebuild on defense. North Texas will break in a new defensive coordinator for a second consecutive season after ranking 123rd in yards per play last fall.
While 2020 represented a low-water mark, the North Texas program has struggled to field competent defenses more years than not; dating back to 2009, UNT has rated 88th or below in yards per play eight times and 50th or higher twice.
* - Bloesch and Mainord served as co-coordinators
The Bloesch promotion sets the Mean Green's staff for the 2021 campaign.
Head coach: Seth Littrell (6th season)
Associate head coach/co-OC/WRs: Tommy Mainord (6th)
Offensive coordinator/OL: Mike Bloesch (2nd)
Defensive coordinator/safeties: Phil Bennett (1st)
Special teams coordinator: Mike Ekeler (3rd total season, 2nd continuous)
Quarterbacks: Blake Joseph (1st)
Running backs: Patrick Cobbs (3rd)
Tight ends: Adrian Mayes (3rd)
Defensive line: Matt Passwaters (1st)
Linebackers: Jim Gush (1st)
Cornerbacks: Jarred Holley (1st)
As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.