Skip to main content
Join Now
Team Avatar
TCU

TCU statement from AD Jeremiah Donati on Gary Patterson

Wade-Peeryby: Wade Peery11/01/21

With the news that TCU and their head football coach Gary Patterson have both mutually agreed to part ways, the Texas Christian Athletic Director Jeremiah Donati had a statement on the legendary football coach on Sunday night.

Below is the tweet of the statement from Brett McMurphy.

Below is the transcribed version of TCU AD Jeremiah Donati’s statement:

“The story of Gary Patterson and the rise in the fortunes of the TCU football program over the last 20 years is clearly one of the most remarkable in the history of college football. We are grateful to Gary and Kelsey Patterson and appreciate everything they have meant to TCU and the Fort Worth community. Under his leadership, TCU has become a nationally recognized brand name in football and in collegiate athletics. Chancellor (Victor) Boschini and I met with Coach Patterson today and mutually agreed that the time has come for a new voice and leadership in our football program. We asked him to continue as our head coach for the remainder of the season, and take on a different role in 2022, but he believed it was in the team’s and TCU’s best interests to begin the transition immediately. We respect Coach Patterson’s perspective and will move forward in that direction. I’ve asked Jerry Kill to serve as interim head coach, and he has accepted the role for the remainder of the season. Coach Patterson will assist TCU in the transition to take place.”

Gary Patterson is a college football icon

Patterson is one of college football’s longest-tenured head coaches, ranking No. 2 behind Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz. The 61-year old head coach joined the program as a defensive coordinator in 1998 and took over head coaching duties in 2000. Patterson accumulated a 181-79 record over 21 seasons with TCU.

TCU has switched conference membership twice during the Patterson era, going from Conference USA to the Mountain West before landing in the Big 12. He is a two-time AP Coach of the Year and won 11 bowl games during his career with the Horned Frogs.

Gary Patterson and TCU agree to part ways after a three-game skid. His 2021 team currently stands at 3-5 overall, including a 1-4 record in the Big 12.

Why did the two parties agree to part ways now?

The Horned Frogs were embarrassed last weekend at their own Homecoming, falling 29-17 to West Virginia. The TCU defense currently ranks 119 of 130 schools in the nation in team defense, allowing 451.1 yards per game. Rumors of the pending move surfaced Saturday night, when FOX Sports analyst Bruce Feldman revealed one of athletic director Jeremiah Donati’s preferred targets.

Who will TCU target as their new head coach?

“(In addition to Texas Tech,) one other job that could open in [Sonny Dykes]’ native state of Texas, I was told by some sources this week close to the situation at TCU, that this could be Gary Patterson’s last year as the head coach of the Horned Frogs,” said Feldman.

With rival Texas Tech also searching for a new head coach, TCU and Gary Patterson quickly agreed to part ways. Sonny Dykes could be the main target for both. In his fifth season with the Mustangs, Dykes has them ranked in the top 25 and at 7-1. He was previously the head coach at Cal and Louisiana Tech.

On3’s James Fletcher III also contributed to the report.