Abilene Christian University introduces Keith Patterson as new head football coach

Keith Patterson had trouble getting started after being introduced as Abilene Christian’s new head football coach Tuesday at Wildcat Stadium.

He welled up in tears, unable to talk, and it happened throughout his speech.

“Football coaches aren’t supposed to cry,” Patterson said, trying to compose himself. “I promise you, I’m tough.”

A day that finally came

It was an emotional moment for Patterson, the defensive coordinator at Texas Tech since 2019, for several reasons.

First, the longtime assistant coach thought his chances to be a head college coach had passed him by.

“I always had an aspiration to go and be a head coach,” Patterson said. “There was a chance about probably 10-15 years ago that probably slipped through my fingers, probably was in the prime of being a Division I-A head coach. … So, I really had thought my window had passed me by. So, that’s why I truly believe with all my heart that this was something that was in the cards and was meant to be.”

Second, he had family and friends sitting in the front row, including his wife, Melissa, and former Texas Tech football coach Matt Wells.

“It’s hard being a coach’s wife,” Patterson said. “It’s hard. It’s not easy. You’ve got to sit in the stands and you’ve got to listen to everybody that knows everything and how to do your job better than you.”

Patterson said fans don’t understand the human element, when they’re being critical.

“It’s hard to sometimes see the hurt that it brings on coach’s kids and their wives,” Patterson said. “We had a young man on our staff this year who’s wife was battling cancer. People don’t see this. This is real people you’re talking about.”

Then there was Wells, who was in the front row with his daughter.

“And you see a young man who got let go in the middle of the season and we were battling to go 6-2,” Patterson said. “And he lost his job. And to see him over here supporting me on my first head coaching opportunity. To me, those are the things people don’t understand.”

Patterson said the support he’s received since being named ACU’s head coach has been surprising. He figures he has 500 messages on his personal phone.

“It’s been overwhelming,” Patterson said. “I had no idea the true impact that you’re making.”

Thomsen gives back

And to think this all started with a phone call from former ACU football coach Chris Thomsen – at a time when Patterson figured his next move was being a defensive coordinator at another school.

“It was probably a three- to four-minute phone conversation,” Patterson said about the call from Thomsen “Obviously, he didn’t tell me a whole lot. He just said, ‘Hey, I think you’re a great fit there.’

“Chris and I worked together at Arizona State. I’ve known Chris for a long time. We have mutual friends in the profession. It wasn’t that long of a conversation. It was really just, ‘Hey, I gave your name to the president of the university. He may be reaching out to you at some point today.’ So, that’s really kind of how it got started.”

It wasn’t much longer after that he got calls from ACU president Phil Schubert and ACU athletic director Zack Lassister.

Thomsen, who coached at ACU from 2005-11, weighed in on the Patterson hiring.

“I’m excited for Keith to get this opportunity,” said Thomsen, the deputy head coach at Florida State. “He is an excellent football coach whose coaching philosophy aligns with the mission of Abilene Christian. He will have a tremendous impact on the players, coaches and everyone in the ACU community.”

Just like that, in a 72-hour period, Patterson went from a guy looking for another job as an assistant to a head college football coach.

“It just happened so fast,” Patterson said. “Honestly, I thought I was going to continue doing what I was doing, being a defensive coordinator.”

Credentials for defense

Patterson, who was hired as ACUs head coach Monday, replaces Adam Dorrel, who was fired on Nov. 21 after going 19-32 in five seasons with the Wildcats.

Patterson has led some of the nation’s top defenses at the Division I-FBS level in 13 of his 19 years as an FBS coach with stints at Utah State (2018), Arizona State (2014-17), West Virginia (2012-13), Pittsburgh (2011) and Tulsa (2002-10).

“We are excited to have someone with Keith’s experience to lead Wildcat football,” ACU president Phil Schubert said in a news release Monday. “From high schools to FBS programs, he has a strong knowledge of and familiarity with coaches in this part of the nation, a reputation for coaching high-level defenses and tremendous postseason experience. We believe he will be a great fit for ACU and our talented student-athletes.”

This will be his first head coaching job at the college level and first since the 1997-99 season, when he was the head coach at Ardmore High School in Ardmore, Oklahoma.

Patterson has served as interim collegiate head coach twice – going 1-1. SMU beat Pittsburgh 28-6 at the BBVA Compass Bowl in 2012, while he got his first win in Tech’s 16-13 decision over Kansas in the 2020 regular-season finale.

“I am excited and thankful for this opportunity and confident we can build a program that will make ACU and the community proud, and whose philosophy and foundation will align with the Christian mission of the university,” Patterson said in the release. “And we will put together a quality coaching staff that will build a championship-level football program.”

Patterson will continue his duties at Texas Tech until after the Red Raiders play Mississippi State in the Liberty Bowl on Dec. 28 in Philadelphia.

“Keith Patterson has a proven track record at the Division I level of developing young men on and off the field,” said Lassiter, who this month took over as ACU’s athletic director. “We have high aspirations for our football program to compete for WAC championships and qualify for the playoffs. Not only will Keith take our football program to the next level, he will be a great addition to the Abilene community.”

Oklahoma, Lubbock, Abilene

In 2019, Patterson was hired at Texas Tech by Wells, who was the Red Raiders head coach. The two worked together at Utah State University in 2018. Prior to Utah State, Patterson spent four seasons at Arizona State University, following two years at West Virginia University.

His move to Texas Tech with Wells marked their third time to work together; both were also on staff at the University of Tulsa from 2003-06.

A native of Marlow, Oklahoma, Patterson earned his bachelor’s degree in health, physical education and recreation from East Central (Oklahoma) University in 1986.

He was a four-year letterman at defensive back for ECU and later served his alma mater as a graduate assistant coach.

He earned his master’s degree in kinesiology and sport studies in 2003 from Texas A&M University-Commerce.

Patterson and his wife have three daughters and one son.

Joey D. Richards covers Abilene high schools and colleges, Big Country schools and other local sports. Follow him at Twitter at ARN_Joey. If you appreciate locally driven news, you can support local journalists with a digital subscription to ReporterNews.com.

Patterson’s coaching career

► 2019-21 – Texas Tech University, defensive coordinator

► 2018 – Utah State University, defensive coordinator

► 2017 – Arizona State University, assistant coach – linebackers, defensive special teams

► 2014-16 – Arizona State University, defensive coordinator

► 2012-13 – West Virginia University, defensive coordinator

► 2011 – Pittsburgh, defensive coordinator and interim head coach

► 2006-10 – University of Tulsa, co-defensive coordinator

► 2003-05 – University of Tulsa, assistant coach – linebackers

► 2000-02 – Allen (Texas) High School, assistant coach

► 1997-99 – Ardmore (Oklahoma) High School, head coach

► 1995-96 – Allen (Texas) High School, assistant coach

► 1994 – Edmond (Oklahoma) Santa Fe High School, head coach

► 1992-93 – Edmond (Oklahoma) Santa Fe High School, assistant coach

► 1988-91 – Altus (Oklahoma) High School, assistant coach

► 1986 – East Central (Oklahoma) University, graduate assistant

Patterson's Coaching Highlights

► Tech forced 61 turnovers from 2018-20 (tied for eighth in the nation and 1st in the Big 12). During his first season in Lubbock, the Red Raiders created 19 turnovers – good for third in the Big 12. Their 14 interceptions ranked 7th in the nation.

► In 2018, Utah State (11-2, tied for most wins in program history) led the nation in interceptions (22), forced three-and-outs (5.7 per game) and shared the FBS lead with 32 forced turnovers. The Aggies, who ranked third in defensive touchdowns (6), finished the season ranked No. 22 in the final Associated Press poll.

► Arizona State ranked sixth in the FBS in turnover margin (plus-14) and led the Pac-12 with 14 interceptions his first season with the Sun Devils in 2014. ASU was 29th in the nation for interceptions that year and among the top 25 units for sacks (13th), fumbles recovered (18th) and red-zone defense (23rd).

► Pittsburgh averaged 3.31 sacks per game (third best nationally) and totaled 98 tackles for loss (12th best) when Patterson was the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach in 2011.

► Tulsa was 10-3 in 2010, when his defense led the nation with 24 interceptions and ranked third in forced turnovers.

This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: ACU introduces Patterson as head football coach