Canales to have increased role at North Texas

Posted Jan 29, 2010 by Scott Carter

Updated Jan 29, 2010 at 01:52 PM

Former USF offensive coordinator Mike Canales and North Texas finally worked out a deal for Canales to take over the Mean Green’s offense next season.

Canales was let go by new USF football coach Skip Holtz on Jan. 17, and is the first of the five assistants released by Holtz from former coach Jim Leavitt’s staff to find a new job.

Canales was named North Texas’ offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Friday by Mean Green coach Todd Dodge.

Besides finalizing contract details, one of the primary hold-ups in negotiations was the question of how much of a role would Canales have in play-calling. Dodge’s son, Riley Dodge, is the Mean Green’s starting quarterback and Dodge has always called his own plays.

That will change with Canales coming in. Canales will call the plays and is also the quarterbacks coach.

“We are extremely fortunate to be able to hire someone with a proven record of success like Mike Canales,” Dodge said in a statement Friday. “He comes highly recommended as an innovative offensive mind by some of the most respected coaches in the game.  He will have an immediate impact on our program and I can’t wait for him to begin work with our coaches and players.”