Making Of A Dynasty: Queens of C-USA

The North Texas soccer program, the most successful team in UNT history and led by the school's most accomplished coach, enters the 2020 season this fall with a target on its back, as usual. It comes with the territory of having won a league title in eight straight years and 16 since 2001. But what's led to this dynasty is much deeper than just the goals and wins. Over the coming weeks as the team prepares for its 26th season, we'll highlight a few of the outstanding people, characteristics, places and moments that have led this program to its elite status.

DENTON – When North Texas left the Sun Belt Conference for Conference USA after the 2012-13 academic year, there might have been some worry about its women's soccer program leaving a league it had begun to take over.

Along with leaving as the reining Sun Belt conference regular season and tournament champs, the Mean Green had won eight Sun Belt titles in its last 11 years in the league.

And after a runner-up finish in year one of C-USA, those worries might have grown louder. But head coach John Hedlund quickly put it all to rest with a return to championship form in 2014. And again in 2015.
And again in 2016.
And again in 2017.
And again in 2018.
And again in 2019.

In total, in just seven seasons in the league UNT has won four conference tournament and four regular season titles. The eight total conference championships are more than any women's soccer program in C-USA history as ever won. The league completed its 25th season last year.

The dominance isn't just in number of trophies either.

Entering the 2020 season, North Texas has collected 68 total wins over league opponents in regular season and tournament matches combined. The next most is only 50 (Rice) and the third-most is just 43 (Florida Atlantic). There are more conference championship trophies in Hedlund's office (16) than two C-USA opponents have league wins in their respective last seven seasons combined.

Of course that also means the Mean Green have a much higher winning percentage against league opponents than any of their C-USA foes. UNT boasts a .807 winning percentage in conference since 2013 in regular season matches. The next highest is .714 (Rice).

The winning in the regular season also extends in the C-USA tournament, which they are actively on a nine match unbeaten streak and have won three consecutive tournament championships.

While some of UNT's closest league competitors have fared well in the regular season their success has not translated into tournament wins.

Since 2013, North Texas has won 15 C-USA Tournament matches. The next most over the last seven years is 6 (Charlotte).

Even though the Mean Green have played in a league-best 20 C-USA tournament matches over the last seven years while some opponents have played in just three or less, UNT has by far the best winning percentage in the conference tournament than anyone else.

North Texas owns a .800 winning percentage in the C-USA Tournament. Winning league tournament matches isn't easy. Only four other opponents have a .500 winning percentage or better in tournament matches since UNT joined the league and the next closest winning percentage to UNT is .633.

The league average is .464.

The triumph in wins in C-USA has been a combination of Hedlund's coaching but also the team's incredible talent. The Mean Green have had 40 all-conference selections since joining C-USA, which is nearly twice as much as the next most. In the tournament, they've had 26 all-tournament team selection in C-USA. Charlotte has the next most with 11.

TOTAL C-USA WINS (including C-USA Tournaments) since start of 2013
North Texas: 68
Rice: 50
FAU: 43
Charlotte: 39
LA Tech: 38
Middle Tennessee: 32
UTEP: 32
Old Dominion: 30
Marshall: 29
WKU: 29
UAB: 23
UTSA: 18
Southern Miss: 15
FIU: 14

WINNING PERCENTAGE AGAINST C-USA OPPONENTS SINCE START OF 2013 (just regular season)
North Texas: 53-10-7 (.807)
Rice: 46-16-8 (.714)
FAU: 38-21-11 (.621)
LA Tech: 36-26-8 (.571)
WKU: 29-25-6 (.533)
UTEP: 31-28-11 (.521)
Charlotte: 33-31-6 (.514)
Old Dominion: 29-29-12 (.500)
Middle Tennessee: 30-32-8 (.485)
Marshall: 26-33-11 (.450)
UAB: 23-35-11 (.413)
UTSA: 18-46-6 (.300)
Southern Miss: 13-45-12 (.271)
FIU: 14-50-5 (.239)

CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT WINS SINCE 2013
North Texas: 15
Charlotte: 6
FAU: 5
Rice: 4
Marshall: 3
Southern Miss: 2
LA Tech: 2
Middle Tennessee: 2
Old Dominion: 1
UTEP: 1
WKU: 0
UAB: 0
FIU: 0
UTSA: Has never made the tournament

CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT WINNING PERCENTAGE SINCE 2013
North Texas: 15-3-2 (.800)
Charlotte: 6-3-2 (.633)
Southern Miss: 2-1 (.633)
FAU: 5-5-1 (.500)
Marshall: 3-3 (.500)
Rice: 4-6 (.400)
LA Tech: 2-5-2 (.333)
UTEP: 1-3-1 (.300)
Middle Tennessee: 2-5 (.285)
Old Dominion: 1-3 (.250)
FIU: 0-1 (.000)
UAB: 0-3 (.000)
WKU: 0-3 (.000)
UTSA: Has never made the tournament
*WKU didn't join C-USA until 2014*
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