Dodge returns for 4th season as N Texas grid coach

Dec 3, 2009 - 2:20 AM DENTON, Texas(AP) -- The University of North Texas is bringing Todd Dodge back for a fourth season as its head football coach, despite a 2-10 season in 2009.

It may be Dodge's last chance for a breakthrough, even though he's under contract through 2011.

North Texas athletic director Rick Villarreal (vee-yah-ray-AL') said in a Wednesday statement that he has met with Dodge and discussed "in great detail the current status of the football program" and the expectations for it.

Villarreal goes on to say he believes "that in the fourth year of the program, success on the field is imperative."

Dodge is 5-31 in his three years heading the Mean Green

Dodge says in the statement that while he's "disappointed in the final record of this year's team," he sees "signs of improvement" in a young team that returns 19 starters next season.