Denton, Texas ? Todd Dodge was hired as coach at North Texas on Tuesday, making the rare jump from high school to Division I-A after an unprecedented run of success at Southlake Carroll.

Dodge, a former Texas quarterback, has coached Carroll to a 77-1 record in Texas’ highest classification. The Dragons have won 46 consecutive games and are two wins from their third straight state title and fourth in five years. They have a 50-game regular-season winning streak and are the only school to win a state title in their first year in Class 5A.

“My family and I are extremely excited for the opportunity to return to the Mean Green football program, which is very near to our hearts,” Dodge said in a statement released before an evening news conference. “We have fond memories of our time at North Texas, and I truly believe that my two years as the offensive coordinator here really set the groundwork for the successes I have achieved as a head football coach.”

Dodge was the offensive coordinator at UNT in 1992-93 before returning to high schools to start his head coaching career. Last year, he interviewed with Bill Parcells for an opening on the Dallas Cowboys staff, and he turned down an invitation to interview at Rice.

Dodge replaces Darrell Dickey, who was fired midway through a 3-9 season that left him with a 42-64 record over nine years.

“The goals and standards that coach Todd Dodge have established for his football program are exemplary as evidenced by his record of successes and national reputation,” athletic director Rick Villarreal said. “He has a passion for the Mean Green and we are confident that he is the coach to elevate North Texas’ football program.”

Under Dickey, the Mean Green went to the New Orleans Bowl as Sun Belt Conference champion four straight times from 2001-04 and featured a pair of running backs – Patrick Cobbs and Jamario Thomas – who led the nation in rushing. But a second straight losing season was marked by dwindling attendance, bottoming out at 9,806 in the finale.

North Texas averaged almost 16,000 fans per game, or about 30,000 fewer than the crowd for Carroll’s 22-21 victory against Euless Trinity in a playoff thriller at Texas Stadium last month.