Eric Morris Not Coaching in North Texas’ Bowl Game

After a few weeks of juggling two jobs, Eric Morris is officially down to one.

Morris won’t coach North Texas’ New Mexico Bowl appearance against San Diego State on Dec. 27, meaning Oklahoma State’s new coach is now full-time Cowboys.

“After several thoughtful conversations with Coach Eric Morris over the past week, we mutually agreed that with his impending transition to Oklahoma State, the best path forward for both programs is for Eric to turn his full attention to his new role in Stillwater,” UNT athletic director Jared Mosley said in a statement.

“I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to Eric, his wife Maggie, and their family for three extraordinary years at UNT. Under Coach Morris’ leadership, Mean Green Football delivered back-to-back bowl seasons, an American Conference championship game appearance, and an 11-win regular season, the first in our program’s history.”

Statement from VP/Director of Athletics Jared Mosley on the 2025 Isleta New Mexico Bowl pic.twitter.com/Wbd96doU6N

— Mean Green Sports (@MeanGreenSports) December 9, 2025

Morris coached two games at UNT after being announced as OSU’s next head coach — a 52-25 win against Temple and a 34-21 loss to Tulane in the American title game.

Had the Mean Green won that game against Tulane, it’s likely Morris switching to OSU full time would have been further delayed, as UNT would’ve been in the College Football Playoff.

Morris will officially enter his first season in Stillwater with a 22-16 record at the FBS level, with all of that coming during the past three seasons at North Texas. The Mean Green’s 11 wins this season are the most in program history, and UNT climbed as high as No. 20 in the AP Poll. It was North Texas’ first time in that poll since 1959.

He handled his UNT exit about as good as anyone could’ve asked of him, closing out the regular season and conference title game while heaping nothing but praise on the first FBS school to give him a shot as its head coach.

“I’m so forever grateful for my opportunities that I’ve had up to this point that have shaped me and molded me into the man I am today,” said Morris at the start of his OSU introduction on Monday. “So, I’d be remiss if I didn’t thank Jared Mosely and president (Harrison) Keller at the University of North Texas for their support. The past three years in Denton have been incredible.

“I’m very proud of the program we were able to build there and eternally grateful for the opportunity that provided me to ultimately end up like a place I’ve dreamt about like Stillwater.”

UPDATE:

Morris released a statement Tuesday, thanking North Texas.

💚 pic.twitter.com/oSuOCz6H3n

— Eric Morris (@__CoachMorris) December 9, 2025