Al Goldfield, a Denton County businessman who provided the seed donation for North Texas’ football stadium campaign, said this week that he is no longer involved with the project or the school’s athletic department on a regular basis.

Rick Villarreal

“I told them that if they need me to talk to individuals about donating, I would still do that, but won’t be involved beyond that,” Goldfield said. “It’s not their fault. I don’t fit in with their way of doing things. I am a businessman and have a different approach.

“I wonder who they have who is really driving the project. I am a realist and want to get things done.”

Goldfield and his wife, Shirley, donated $1.5 million toward UNT’s stadium campaign on Nov. 23, 2006, that was used in the early stages of planning for a 30,000-seat venue to replace Fouts Field.

The donation was the largest in the history of the UNT athletic department at the time.

Goldfield said he hasn’t spoken with UNT officials in four months.

“Al and Shirley have been very generous to the athletic program and the university through this process,” UNT athletic director Rick Villarreal said. “Their initial gift was instrumental in getting the whole process of the stadium started. I look forward to continuing working with Al as this project comes to fruition. The Goldfields should always know that they were a major part of making it happen.”

Goldfield is the second person involved with UNT’s stadium campaign to step down in the last few months.

Ann Clinkscales, UNT’s senior associate athletic director for advancement, has also left the school to attend to family issues. Clinkscales joined UNT’s staff in June 2008 and helped head up the athletic department’s fundraising efforts for capital projects including a new stadium.

Stan Walker, another UNT development officer, has taken over as interim stadium campaign director while the athletic department looks for Clinkscales’ replacement.

Villarreal said he understood the reasons behind Clinkscales’ decision to leave UNT and that her position would be posted in the next few days.

“There is a lot of momentum for this project and there will continue to be momentum,” Villarreal said. “[UNT president Gretchen Bataille] was just visiting people in Houston. There are a lot of people who are excited. There will always be bumps in the road. Overcoming them is what has made us successful while becoming Title IX compliant and building facilities. This project will follow those same lines.”

Goldfield is one of the high-profile donors UNT cultivated in an attempt to bolster its campaign that has picked up momentum over the last several months. UNT students approved an athletics fee of $10 per semester credit hour in the fall that will go into place when the stadium opens.

The school officially kicked off its public fundraising campaign — called “Believe It” — for the stadium this spring.

Goldfield’s involvement was one of the reasons UNT was able to take its campaign to a public phase.

Goldfield founded CellStar, a cell-phone distribution company that helped make him a multi-millionaire.

Villarreal developed a relationship with Goldfield, who often attends UNT basketball and football games despite never having attended the school. Goldfield made his donation to UNT while the school was looking for a new football coach and gave the school another selling point that helped lure Todd Dodge away from Southlake Carroll.

Dodge replaced former head coach Darrell Dickey.

Goldfield maintained a relationship with UNT’s athletic department after stepping down from the stadium committee before losing touch with the school.

“I told them that Ann could call me once a month or when they found a major donor,” Goldfield said. “That was four months ago and I haven’t heard from her. I found out that she stepped down. I haven’t talked to Rick in four months, either.”

Goldfield said he was not aware that UNT had launched its public campaign until after the announcement.

While Goldfield is no longer involved with the project, he is hoping that UNT is able to build a new stadium.

“I would love to see it happen,” Goldfield said. “There are wonderful people over there who want to see it happen.”

BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870. His e-mail address is bvito@dentonrc.com