Neal Brown Overhauls North Texas Staff With Key Hires

North Texas is undergoing a rapid transformation under Neal Brown, who was recently hired to lead the Mean Green football program. After inheriting an 11-win team, Brown is moving quickly to install trusted staff and experienced personnel to elevate the program’s competitiveness.

On Monday, CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz reported that Brown will bring in Errin Joe, Texas’ director of scouting, as North Texas’ new general manager. Joe brings extensive experience from high-profile programs, including prior stints at Georgia Tech and Alabama, providing the Mean Green with a seasoned evaluator and roster builder.

Joe’s hiring reflects Brown’s focus on strong recruiting and roster development. The two developed a working relationship during Brown’s time in Austin last season, when he contributed as an analyst for Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian while interacting with the Longhorns’ scouting and personnel staff.

In addition to Joe, North Texas will add Baylor defensive coordinator Matt Powledge to lead the defense, according to Zenitz. Powledge, who has also coached at Oregon, brings a wealth of experience and a prior working relationship with Brown dating back to their time at Kentucky in 2013.

1. Errin Joe: Building a Talent Pipeline

Errin Joe’s appointment as general manager marks a strategic move to strengthen North Texas’ roster management and recruiting capabilities. His experience at Texas, Georgia Tech, and Alabama gives him a deep understanding of evaluating talent at all levels. Joe’s connections in the state of Texas are particularly valuable for the Mean Green, allowing the program to identify and attract top in-state prospects. His knowledge of regional recruiting pipelines could significantly elevate North Texas’ ability to compete for talent against larger Power Five programs. Having worked alongside Brown at Texas, Joe is familiar with the head coach’s system and vision. That familiarity ensures that personnel decisions will align closely with Brown’s broader strategy for the program. The hiring signals North Texas’ intent to build long-term stability, combining roster development with high-level talent evaluation to sustain competitiveness in Conference USA and beyond.

2. Matt Powledge: Defensive Leadership

Matt Powledge is set to take over as defensive coordinator, bringing experience from his recent roles at Baylor and Oregon. His background includes co-defensive coordinator duties at Oregon and three years running Baylor’s defense. Powledge’s prior working relationship with Brown at Kentucky in 2013 strengthens the collaboration between the coaching staff. That history gives Brown confidence that Powledge can implement schemes aligned with his vision while mentoring players effectively. Powledge’s expertise will be critical in maintaining defensive consistency as North Texas adapts to new systems under Brown. His ability to develop talent and coordinate complex defensive schemes positions the team to sustain high-level performance. The defensive hire complements the administrative appointment of Joe, ensuring that both the roster and on-field execution are guided by experienced, trusted professionals.

3. Looking Ahead for North Texas

Although Brown will not coach in the upcoming New Mexico Bowl, his focus is already on stabilizing the roster and retaining key contributors. These early hires demonstrate a clear blueprint: surround the program with experienced, trusted personnel who understand his standards and philosophy. North Texas is positioned to leverage these additions into immediate improvements, particularly in recruiting, player development, and defensive execution. The combination of Joe’s talent evaluation and Powledge’s defensive leadership provides a strong foundation for the Mean Green’s long-term growth. As Brown implements his vision, the program aims to build sustained competitiveness in Conference USA, elevating North Texas from a solid team into a program capable of consistent success and postseason relevance. *]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(–header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir=“auto” tabindex="-1" data-turn-id=“request-WEB:0b64d0a8-ce5b-4086-8149-96bc43b957c4-27” data-testid=“conversation-turn-34” data-scroll-anchor=“true” data-turn=“assistant”>

Neal Brown continues to reshape North Texas football by hiring Errin Joe as general manager and Matt Powledge as defensive coordinator, combining experienced personnel and coaching leadership to strengthen the program’s future.