Football
- Title:
- Offensive Coordinator
- Email:
- untfootball@unt.edu
- Phone:
- 940-565-3653
Graham Harrell joined the Mean Green as the offensive coordinator for North Texas prior to the 2016 season.
North Texas' offense continued its strong resurgence under Harrell in 2018, as the Mean Green averaged 34.6 points per game, which ranked 27th in the Football Bowl Subdivision. Quarterback Mason Fine took home Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year honors for the second consecutive season, throwing for 3,793 yards, 27 touchdowns and only five interceptions. Fine will enter 2019 as the nation's leading returning passer (FBS) and already holds 11 program records heading into his senior season. The rushing attack paced by sophomore DeAndre Torrey also had success in his first season as a member of the Mean Green. He averaged 5.6 yards per carry and scored 15 rushing touchdowns (18 total). Torrey, a second team all-conference performer, ranked seventh in FBS in total touchdowns. Junior wide receiver Rico Bussey, Jr. also had a breakout season, leading the Mean Green in receptions (68), receiving yards (1,017) and touchdowns (12) on his way to first team all-C-USA honors.
In 2017, The Mean Green showed marked improvement offensively again in Harell's second season, improving their points per game average by 10.7 ppg (35.5). Fine also took a major leap forward in his second season with under Harrell's guidance, becoming the first Mean Green signal-caller to eclipse 4,000 yards passing in a season (4,052) and the first to throw for 30 or more touchdowns (31). Fine was named Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year and was a first-team all-conference performer. Running back Jeffery Wilson also had a monster season, earning Second Team All-Conference USA honors after rushing for 1,215 yards and 16 touchdowns. The Mean Green rushing attack totaled 2,280 yards and 28 scores.
In his first season in Denton, his offense saw the 11th-best turnaround in the nation, scoring 9.6 points per game more than it did in 2015. North Texas threw for 771 more yards than it did in 2015, and the total offense gained 603 yards more than it did in 2015 under Harrell's guidance.
Harrell, who was a record-setting Texas high school football quarterback at Ennis and in college at Texas Tech, spent two seasons at Washington State. He was promoted to outside receivers coach in 2015 and helped lead the Cougars to an 8-4 season and a berth in the Sun Bowl.
Harrell coached wide receiver Gabe Marks, who was a Pac-12 first-team all-conference selection in 2015. Marks led the conference in receptions, touchdown receptions and was second in receiving yards per game. He set a Washington State single season record with 14 receiving touchdowns. In addition to Marks, wide receiver Dom Williams received honorable mention honors after hauling in 73 catches for 997 yards and 11 touchdowns. Washington State led the nation in passing offense in 2015, throwing for 397 yards per game.
As a player, Harrell was a record-setting quarterback at Texas Tech, from 2004-08, under then assistant coach Littrell, finishing his career with an NCAA-record 134 touchdown passes, the second-most career yards (15,793) in NCAA history and with the third-highest career passing average with 350.96 yards-per-game.
As a junior, the Ennis, Texas native, was an All-Big-12 Conference second team selection and Gator Bowl MVP, finishing the year with a school-record 5,707 passing yards, the second-highest season total ever in the NCAA FBS ranks, to go along with his 48 touchdown passes. In each of his three seasons as a starter, his passing yardage figures placed in the Top 25 all-time at the FBS level (21st in 2006 with 4,555 yards and sixth in 2008 with 5,111 yards). As a senior, Harrell was named AT&T's All-America Player of the Year, and was a First-Team All-American after leading the country with 5,111-passing yards while tossing 45 touchdowns and only nine interceptions.
Harrell spent the 2010 season in Canadian Football League before spending three seasons (2010-12) with the Green Bay Packers, earning a Super Bowl in ring in 2010. Harrell earned his bachelor's degree in history in 2007. Harrell and his wife Brittney married in March, 2012.
