TCU head man Gary Patterson is a graduate and former assistant at Kansas State. Obviously he is now the top target of the Wildcats with the announce ment of the firing of Ron Prince this past week.
Patterson began his coaching career in 1982 at KSU as an assistant to head coach Jim Dickey After subsequently serving a number of years as an assistant coach at a number of different schools, Patterson was hired as the DC at the New Mexico in 1996. He served in that job for two years before leaving to take the same position at TCU in 1998. He was named head coach at TCU prior to the in December 2000, replacing who left to become the head coach at Alabama.
In seven years at TCU, Patterson's 62 victories place him in third place on the TCU career victory chart, and he is the only coach in school history to record four 10-win seasons. His teams have only failed to reach a bowl game once (2004), the Frogs have earned a spot in the Final Top 25 four times. In 2005, Patterson led the Frogs to the MWCchampionship in their first season of league play. Over the course of the 2005 & 2006 seasons, the Frogs won four consecutive games against Big 12 opponents, with only one of the four coming at home.
Patterson is happy at TCU and won't leave for just any job.Gary turned down a job offer from Minnesota worth over $2 million per year to stay at TCU. He also turned down the chance to go back to coach at his alma mater because he feel they low balled him concerning salary. There will be no hometown discount this time around for Patterson.
Prior to his arrival in Fort Worth, Patterson spent two seasons as the defensive coordinator and safeties coach at New Mexico. The Lobos collected 22 total takeaways and three defensive touchdowns in 1996. The next year, in Patterson style, New Mexico improved their total takeaways to 29, including 16 interceptions.
A true defensive specialist, Patterson made an impact as an assistant at Navy. n just one season as the Midshipmen's secondary coach in 1995, he helped elevate the defense in the national rankings. Navy finished 18th in total defense, 17th in scoring defense and 28th in pass defense efficiency.
Patterson might be the ideal fit for Husky fans looking for the return of dominate defensive play. Patterson's defensive acumen dates back to his own playing days at Kansas State, where he played strong safety and outside linebacker for the Wildcats in 1980 and 1981
Patterson has been part of 12 bowl staffs, including one each with Kansas State, Utah State and New Mexico. The other nine have come at TCU. Aside from being an accomplished Division I head coach, Patterson is also a skilled guitar player. On several occasions, Patterson has entertained TCU fans with his guitar skills at pep rallies around the Fort Worth area. So if you miss Rick Neuheisel Gary just may be able to fill the gap for you.
Coaching Experience:
1982 Kansas State (Graduate Assistant)
1983-84 Tennessee Tech (Linebackers)
1986 UC Davis (Linebackers)
1987 Cal Lutheran (Defensive Coordinator)
1988 Pittsburg (Kan.) State (Linebackers)
1989-91 Sonoma (Calif.) State (Defensive Coordinator)
1992 Oregon Lightning Bolts
1992-94 Utah State (Secondary)
1995 Navy (Secondary)
1996-97 New Mexico (Defensive Coordinator/Safeties)
1998-00 TCU (Defensive Coordinator/Safeties)
2000-present TCU (Head Coach)
One thing most Husky fans have been calling for is the return to dominance or at least respectability on defense. Based on Patterson's resume it seems that he would be the type of guy to turn that around.
What do you think?
Would Gary Patterson be a good fit at Washington?