North Texas has a new coach in John Skladany from the University of Central Florida. He was let go from the Knights even though his defense was ranked 11^th in the nation in total defense and was the best in Conference-USA. UCF Head Coach George O’Leary said the numbers were misleading after UCF finished the season 5-7. Last year the Knights allowed only 17.1 points a game and only 108.4 rushing yards a game. After winning the Liberty Bowl beating Georgia and finishing with an 11-3 record they were shooting for a BCS Bowl this year.

Skladany started his coaching as a graduate assistant at Ohio in 1976.

In 1978-79 he was an assistant at Utica HS then became a defensive assistant at United States Merchant Marines Academy in 1980.

In 1981 he took the position as defensive assistant at Maine until 1984. 

He went back to Ohio in 1985-1989 to become a coach for the secondary and DC.

He moved to Northern Arizona to be the defensive back coach from 1990-1992.

When Colorado State called in 1993-1995 he accepted the defensive line coach position.

In his second year at the helm of Iowa State, present North Texas Head Coach Dan McCarney hired Skladany as his defensive coordinator from 1996-2006. In 2005 they allowed only 10 rushing touchdowns, 19.2 points per game, ranked seventh in the national forcing 35 turnovers.  In 2004 the Cyclones allowed 139.2 rushing yards a game.

In 2007 he took the DC position at UCF for one year. With the help of his defense, UCF won its first CUSA title for the Golden Knights and the Liberty Bowl. His defense had a school record of 24 intercepted passes and was ranked 3^rd in the nation.

He then took the position at the University of Houston as the DC/Safeties coach. Skladany was let go from the University of Houston after two years of service because they had one of the worst defenses in the country in 2009 when they were ranked 111 in total defense.

Skladany returned back to UCF as LB/ST assistant before taking over the DC position last year until he was go by the Knights.

He played his college career for Central Connecticut from 1968-1972. After college, Skladany played his professional career in the World Football League for the Birmingham Americans in 1974. That year they went 15-5, won all 13 of their home games and won the 1974 World Bowl. After the league folded he moved to the Canadian Football league for one season in 1975 playing for the Ottawa Rough Riders.

Unconfirmed reports is he will take over the DC position vacated by Clint Bowen who moved on the Kansas.