DENTON -- North Texas is nearing a final decision on who its next football coach will be with North Carolina assistant coach Seth Littrell considered to be the overwhelming favorite.
Littrell has served as the assistant head coach for offense at North Carolina since 2014 and was previously the offensive coordinator at Indiana and Arizona.
TCU co-offensive coordinator Doug Meacham is UNT's other finalist.
"We are at a point where we need to finish the process," UNT athletic director Rick Villarreal said Monday. "Because of the nature of the people we have talked to, we have a schedule we have to work with. We are still in the process. That is all I can say."
A source close to Littrell said early this week that UNT has already discussed the parameters of a contract with him.
Sports Illustrated reported Tuesday that Meacham had pulled out of the running for the job. A UNT official said the school had not been informed that Meacham is no longer interested.
Meacham appeared to be on the verge of landing the job late Sunday night. By Monday afternoon multiple sources said that UNT would head in another direction.
UNT turned its attention to Littrell, who fits the parameters for what the school is looking for in a new coach.
"We want someone who is going to be offensive minded, can recruit and put us in position to be successful," Villarreal said shortly after parting ways with former head coach Dan McCarney.
Littrell fits the profile because of his background as an offensively oriented coach. He joined North Carolina's staff in 2014 and helped the Tar Heels set school records for most passing yards (3,614), passing touchdowns (29) and first downs (311) in a season. North Carolina averaged 429.8 yards per game.
At Indiana, he helped the Hoosiers rank ninth in the nation in total offense in 2013 at 508.5 yards per game.
UNT has used a run-based offense for the last five seasons under McCarney. UNT officials want to hire a coach who runs an offense that would appeal to players who have grown up playing in spread systems that have become the standard in Texas high school football.
Littrell has recruited Texas dating back to his tenure as Texas Tech's running backs coach from 2005-08.
Bill Elliott, the head coach at Celina, has gotten to know Littrell, who helped recruit his son to North Carolina, over the last few months. Nathan Elliott is a freshman with the Tar Heels.
"He likes coach Littrell," Bill Elliott said of his son. "He thinks he is a great coach and a lot of fun. They run a wide-open offense with a fast tempo. They are so productive. There is a lot of excitement to it."
UNT is close to finalizing its decision that could bring Littrell -- and that excitement -- to UNT.
If UNT settles on Littrell, he would likely not be available to have an introductory press conference until Sunday at the earliest. North Carolina plays Clemson on Saturday night in the ACC title game.
Twitter: @brettvito