CC: Gary Patterson

Submitted by Bluesnu on
I've been thinking this for some time now, and after this past week I felt the urge to finally post. Why is nobody really talking about Gary Patterson from TCU as a potential replacement for Hoke? Patterson was my first choice for a replacement after RR. I think he would be great here. He runs an up-tempo offense that would cater to many of our players skills while at the same time maintaining a dominant defense. He has ties to one of the greatest recruiting hotbeds I'm the country. He's proven himself as a head coach. And as someone posted recently, based on the metric for developing talent, he's one of the best there is. Now, this past weekend, he beat one of the best teams in the country. Most importantly, last time the job was open, he was never even contacted and even expressed some interest in the position. Mind you, he said that after two BCS bowl appearances and coming off a season where he finished #3 in the country. That's rather bold. IMO, he should be the number one candidate.
MGoBoard
Football

Sten Carlson

October 5th, 2014 at 6:41 PM ^

Although I think Gary Patterson would be a great hire for Michigan, I think there is little to no chance of him leaving TCU to come to Michigan.

For what its worth, in 2007, prior to Michigan hiring RR, I spoke with the TCU guys I know (some of whom are very well connected) saying that I felt like Michigan should take a serious run at Patterson.  They responded with, "If he tried to leave Ft. Worth, his wife would divorce him."  From what they explained his wife is very involved/entrenchd in the Ft. Worth social scene and they live an idealistic life there.

Take it for what its worth, but I don't see it happening.

Joined: 11/16/2009

MGoPoints: -56

michiganman01

October 5th, 2014 at 6:45 PM ^

I dont think he will come, but he is the definition of an adaptive coach. His offense from the Andy Dalton BCS busting days to today's Big 12 days have changed drastically. In a good way of course.

Joined: 08/27/2013

MGoPoints: 896

CoverZero

October 5th, 2014 at 6:48 PM ^

It is wishful thinking to believe that ANY proven head coach, who is currently comfortable and set in his situation would consider coming to Michigan to coach this mess of a program. 

Joined: 08/30/2014

MGoPoints: 14571

bronxblue

October 5th, 2014 at 6:57 PM ^

It would be an interesting choice, but he's a bit older (54) and while he's made a winner down at TCU, he doesn't have any real connection to the area or school.  I also think he tends to attract decent talent because of his location, and trying to get those same kids to come north would be tough.

I'm sure UM will take a run at him, but it feels like a reach.

Joined: 11/22/2008

MGoPoints: 171810

alum96

October 5th, 2014 at 7:16 PM ^

He has been at TCU since 1998.  I would be for him if you could pry him out of there.

He and Whittingham at Utah are almost identical candidates in that they took non Big 5 teams to the heights of the Mountain West (TCU/Utah) and then both coach's schools moved to a Big 5 conference and suffered the first 2 years in the new conference as they had to play a better type of athlete week in and week out.  Now in year 3 both coaches seem to be getting enough talent to begin really competing in their respective conferences.

He makes $3M+ and is still only 54 years old. (I am a bit surprised at you guys thinking that is old for a HC) I liked the offense they were running against Oklahoma, it was fun.

Much like Whittingham the question is can you pry him away - Tennessee came for Whittingham in 2010 and was rejected.  With Patteron it is more of a Mike Gundy type question - are you going to pry him away from somewhere he has been a long time. 

He wouldn't be sexy but Dantonio was not sexy when he got to MSU off a 18-17 record at Cincy.  He is a proven commodity and would stabilize a program in trouble.  Of course one major con is no Big 10 footprint/background - he would be a stranger to HS coaches in most of Ohio and PA.

I also dont know if he has any reason to leave to go to UM.  He is in a power 5 conference in a hotbed of fertile recruiting with a program he built from the ground up.  Despite what many claim here that this is a 1 year turnaround, this is a 3 year turnaround story. 

 

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs Coaches# AP°
TCU Horned Frogs (Western Athletic Conference) (2000)
2000 TCU 0–1[n 1] [n 1] [n 1] L Mobile Alabama 18 21
TCU Horned Frogs (Conference USA) (2001–2004)
2001 TCU 6–6 4–3 T–5th L Galleryfurniture.com    
2002 TCU 10–2 6–2 T–1st W Liberty 22 23
2003 TCU 11–2 7–1 2nd L Fort Worth 24 25
2004 TCU 5–6 3–5 T–6th      
TCU Horned Frogs (Mountain West Conference) (2005–2011)
2005 TCU 11–1 8–0 1st W Houston 9 11
2006 TCU 11–2 6–2 2nd W Poinsettia 21 22
2007 TCU 8–5 4–4 5th W Texas    
2008 TCU 11–2 7–1 2nd W Poinsettia 7 7
2009 TCU 12–1 8–0 1st L Fiesta† 6 6
2010 TCU 13–0 8–0 1st W Rose† 2 2
2011 TCU 11–2 7–0 1st W Poinsettia 13 14
TCU Horned Frogs (Big 12 Conference) (2012–present)
2012 TCU 7–6 4–5 T–5th L Buffalo Wild Wings    
2013 TCU 4–8 2–7 T–7th      
2014 TCU 4–0 1–0        
TCU: 124–44 75–30  
Total: 124–44  

 

Joined: 04/28/2012

MGoPoints: 82537

alum96

October 5th, 2014 at 7:06 PM ^

Separately, I think if he was serious about leaving TCU he would have been considered for Texas.  I could be wrong but I don't remember him being a serious candidate.

Joined: 04/28/2012

MGoPoints: 82537

Qmatic

October 5th, 2014 at 7:09 PM ^

What he's done with his offense to cater to their strengths is incredible. The man is a great coach, and turns mid level recruits into a great defensive team year in and year out.

Joined: 01/09/2013

MGoPoints: 32799

Sac Fly

October 5th, 2014 at 7:19 PM ^

One name who hasn't been mentioned at all is Mark Richt.

His teams haven't been bad at all, but in the last 5 years he's only won 10 games or more twice. The fans seem to be losing patience with him and I think he's out if they don't win 10 games this year.

Joined: 04/03/2010

MGoPoints: 5981

randyfloyd

October 5th, 2014 at 11:04 PM ^

I would love a coach like Patterson, or many of the other candidates but the truth is Michigan is not an elite destination anymore. People need to start being realistic, maybe Hoke was the best that we could get last time and I will be very shocked (but happy), if we are able to get someone like Patterson.

Joined: 08/19/2008

MGoPoints: 3588

WMUKirk

October 6th, 2014 at 12:38 AM ^

The three seasons before Nick Saban got to Alabama they went.

 

4-9, 6-6, 6-7. While USC, Texas, Miami, and Ohio State absolutely dominated that time. They were 3-8 as early as 2000, to go along with NCAA sanctions. Nick Saban's first season? 7-6 finishing 1-4. FSU wasn't exactly world beaters after 2000, and before last year. USC before Pete, had 6 .500 or worse seasons. My point is big destinations will continue to be big destinations as long as they have TV deals, big stadiums, boosters, and budgets. None of the 8 college football blue bloods hasn't fallen off in the past two decades, and they've all rebounded. Michigan can afford any coaching staff the world has to offer, can afford to upgrade their facilities to rival anyone not named Oregon, and the ability to have their game shown to more people than anyone else. When Michigan is good, they're luckily one of the only teams besides Ohio, ND, Texas, Oregon  USC and the entire SEC with the ability to be overrated early, and often. Do not underestimate your college because of a slight dip that hasn't reached nearly as bad as the dips of other blue bloods. It isn't like our recruiting dipped to match our records, we've literally are one of the most well recruited, well talented teams. And the right coach can do what Saban, Meyer, Miles and such have done and do a quick two year turn around. 

Joined: 09/25/2014

MGoPoints: 1105

alum96

October 6th, 2014 at 4:57 AM ^

The more I look at Patterson the more I am intrigued.  Guy brings a pretty sick defense with him every year (with a few exceptions).  His offenses struggle some years but the years the offense can keep up they have excellent record.  His 2 years have been a struggle in the Big 12 as they adjust to better athletes BUT this year could be a big year in much the way Mullen might be having a big year.  He faces a bevy of high powered offenses in the coming weeks - Baylor, OK State, Texas Tech, West Virginia - and then a very solid defensive team in Kansas State.  If he gets through that gauntlet 4-1 he really will have shown a big turnaround and ability to compete in the Big 12.  Even 3-2 would be impressive.

While the W-L has struggled in the 2 years in the Big 12 his defense has been quite good, especially when adjusting for a much more pass happy and high scoring conference.  #20 in total defense in the Big 12 would be akin to #8 in the Big 10.

It sounds like we would be very difficult to pull out of TCU but pending how he does in the month of October he could be one to really target.  I don't care what conference you are in - being #1 in total defense multiple years is impressive.  In Year 2000 he wasnt the head coach but was DC - so that is his defense.

  W/L Tot Off Tot Def
2000 9-3 23 1
2001 6-6 90 24
2002 10-2 66 1
2003 11-2 26 38
2004 5-6 18 99
2005 11-1 41 25
2006 11-2 17 2
2007 8-5 64 15
2008 11-2 24 1
2009 12-1 7 1
2010 13-0 12 1
2011 11-2 28 32
2012 7-6 72 16
2013 4-8 104 24

 

Joined: 04/28/2012

MGoPoints: 82537