Former University of North Texas and Southlake Carroll defensive coordinator Ron Mendoza will be the new defensive coordinator at Cedar Hill.

Cedar Hill coach Joey McGuire told The Dallas Morning News he was excited to have Mendoza.

Mendoza was one of the first hires for North Texas coach Todd Dodge, who replaced Mendoza at the end of North Texas' first season.

Mendoza was named the defensive coordinator and took over the reigns of the Mean Green linebackers in 2007. Mendoza had served as an assistant at Southlake Carroll High School with Dodge since 2000, including the last three years as defensive coordinator.

A 27-year coaching veteran, Mendoza was part of four state title teams at Carroll with his defenses playing a dominant role. Over his last five years at Carroll, Mendoza helped guide the Dragons to a 79-1 record, with the only loss being a one-point decision in the 2003 state championship game.

Before joining Dodge at Carroll, Mendoza had spent 20 years as an assistant coach at several different high schools. His first high school coaching job was at Morton, Texas in 1982 and from there he had stops at Odessa, Del Rio, Diamond Hill Jarvis, South Grand Prairie, Newman Smith and Flower Mound High School.

Mendoza replaces Carlos Lynn, who left Cedar Hill to become the head coach at Arlington Seguin. Lynn and McGuire had worked together for 10 tears.