Former TCU coach Gary Patterson is a bona fide Horned Frogs legend. After a stint as defensive coordinator, he grew to become this system’s head coach in 2000, main them to a 181–79 report over 20 years earlier than resigning halfway by means of ’21. The college unveiled a statue of the coach in ’16, and for good cause.
Given all of that historical past, Patterson’s post-TCU résumé is … fascinating, to say the least.
In ’22, he served as a particular assistant to Steve Sarkisian at Texas, an in-state and convention rival. Patterson was out of soccer in ’23, however his identify surfaced in connection to some jobs because the teaching carousel turned. On Thursday, a number of shops reported that Patterson will advise Baylor coach Dave Aranda in an off-field position this season.
Jerome Miron/USA TODAY Sports activities
Per SicEm365, an internet site that covers Baylor athletics, Patterson will probably be a “senior stage strategic marketing consultant” for the Bears, serving to Aranda and his employees with making ready for opponents and self-scouting on each side of the ball.
Baylor and TCU, that are situated about 90 miles aside in Waco and Fort Value, respectively, share a heated, long-standing rivalry. In 2014, it reached a fever pitch, when the Bears sparked a large comeback to beat the Horned Frogs in a 61–58 shootout. Each groups would end 11–1 (8–1 Large 12), and have been famously spurned by the School Soccer Playoff in favor of eventual nationwide champion Ohio State. Patterson additionally shared a prickly relationship with former Baylor coach Artwork Briles (whose son coincidentally now serves on Sonny Dykes’s employees at TCU).
These all consider to some very blended emotions from followers on each side of the rivalry. One fan took issues to its pure conclusion, nonetheless, placing Bears gear on Patterson’s statue on the TCU campus.
That didn’t take lengthy. pic.twitter.com/QWelCqpxlp
— Colt Barber (@Colt_Barber) February 8, 2024
SicEm365 notes that Patterson and Aranda have a previous relationship, and it’s uncertain that the previous TCU coach would ever outwardly relish the possibility to beat his outdated program, regardless of an awkward midseason breakup in 2021. Nonetheless, he did open up a bit about his emotions in the direction of this system throughout their shocking run to the nationwide championship sport in 2022–23, telling Sports activities Illustrated that it was “bittersweet.”
“You set 24 years of your life into a spot, you wouldn’t need one thing like that to fail,” Patterson mentioned. “In the event you’re sitting in my sneakers, sure, it’s most likely bittersweet. However on the finish of the day, it’s good to see them get the place they should.”
Whereas supporting the Horned Frogs throughout that run, he additionally made an fascinating divorce metaphor when referencing the choice to work at Texas.
“In the event you went by means of a divorce,” Patterson mentioned, explaining the transfer. “Would you wish to stay in the identical city as your ex? I wanted some house. Lots of people thought I went to Texas out of spite. No, I went to study.”
Patterson would attend TCU’s tough loss to Georgia at SoFi Stadium to finish that season, incomes a heat reception from Horned Frogs followers. Even so, Thursday’s Baylor information would point out issues stay difficult between the 2 sides.
