Report: Gary Patterson someone 'to keep an eye on' for UNLV job

According to Bruce Feldman of The Athletic, Gary Patterson is someone to “keep an eye on” for the vacant UNLV head coaching job. The former TCU Horned Frogs headman has spent the past season with the Texas Longhorns, serving as an analyst for head coach Steve Sarkisian.

“Interesting name to keep an eye on with the UNLV coaching vacancy: former TCU coach Gary Patterson,” Feldman said via Twitter.

Patterson and TCU may have gone their different ways during the 2021 season but he’s still a legend in Fort Worth — and with good reason. He helped the Horned Frogs get on the national stage and eventually into the Big 12 Conference.

In 21 full seasons, Patterson had a winning record in 15 of them. The peak came during the 2010 run, getting as high as No. 2 in the AP poll. TCU won the Rose Bowl that year as well, defeating Wisconsin in one of the biggest wins in program history.

Patterson has spent some time out West but it’s been a while. He was the defensive coordinator and safeties coach for New Mexico before the turn of the century.

However, UNLV most likely does not care about his experience out West. Patterson was able to bring TCU up the FBS ranks while competing in the WAC and Mountain West. Developing talent would become the key to the Rebels’ program if Patterson does in fact get the call.

More on UNLV job

UNLV decided to move on from Marcu Arroyo following a 5-7 season. However, four of the wins came during the first five games of the year. A six-game losing streak ended on the regular season’s final weekend with a win over in-state rival Nevada.

While in Las Vegas, Arroyo sported a 7-23 overall record after being hired before the 2020 season. Instead of moving forward, the Rebels decided it was time for a new chapter within the program is now conducting a head coaching search.

Whoever is hired as the next head coach of the Rebels will be tasked with turning around a program that is desperate for success. UNLV has made it to a bowl game just once in the last 22 seasons, losing the Heart of Dallas Bowl under Bobby Hauck in 2013. Arroyo was the third head coach that the Rebels have had in the last decade.