Gorman grad is one of the youngest coaches in college football
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AC Patterson was determined to follow in his dad’s career path and become a football coach. It’s just Andre Patterson advised his only son to steer clear of the profession.
The older Patterson, from more than three decades in the business, knows coaching isn’t an easy lifestyle — everything from poor job security, long hours and constant travel easily take its toll, especially on families.
Still, coaching was something the younger Patterson, a Bishop Gorman High graduate, couldn’t resist. The 23-year-old was one of the youngest coaches in college football last fall in his first season as Portland State’s offensive line coach, quickly adapting to a lifestyle he grew up in and seemed destined to join.
Even if it was against his family’s wishes.
“To be honest with you, I tried to talk him out of coaching,” said Andre Patterson, the Minnesota Vikings’ defensive line coach who previously was part of Mike Sanford’s UNLV staff.
“I said, ‘Are you sure this is what you want to do with as many places you have had to live and as many times you changed schools.’ He told me he turned out all right.”
Patterson played on Gorman’s offensive line for two state championship seasons and received a college scholarship to UTEP. But after a fourth knee surgery, he had to stop playing before his college eligibility expired. Then UTEP coach Mike Price kept him on scholarship, giving him his first break in coaching: Patterson would help coaches break down game film.
As a child, he followed his dad to NFL training camps, working as a ball boy with the Denver Broncos and eating in the cafeteria with Dallas Cowboys players. He was there when Emmitt Smith broke the NFL rushing record and played catch as a toddler with Randy Moss.
Along the way, he became a student of the game and learned how it was supposed to be played. Coaching was a natural fit.
“As long as you know what you are talking about, the players have respect for that,” AC Patterson said.
For all of its drawbacks, coaching is a difficult profession to get into. Most who are Patterson’s age work as graduate assistants, or are still playing themselves. Portland State had two players, none on the offensive line, who were older.
But Portland State coach Bruce Barnum is a longtime friend of the Pattersons. Andre Patterson gave Barnum his first job, and Barnum met AC days after he was born. He knew what kind person he was offering a job to.
“I know his pedigree because I’ve known his dad forever,” Barnum said. “I knew there would be things he would have to learn, but the guys on staff could bring him along. ...I knew hiring him would be a hit. Turns out it was a home run.”
Barnum was Portland State’s interim coach in the offseason when he took a calculated risk at hiring Patterson. But Portland State won nine games, including the season opener against Washington State, and Barnum was given the job on a permanent basis. It was one of the best seasons in Portland State history.
“I’ve been around football my whole life, but here we are (at Washington State) and there’s a lot of nerves,” Patterson said. “I knew we had a pretty good game plan. Nobody expected us to win, but we stuck around long enough and found some running plays that worked. It was a great upset for us.”
Barnum has helped ease the transition. Last spring, he accompanied Patterson on recruiting in-house visits to bridge the learning curve — just like Andre Patterson did with him. This offseason, Patterson is on his own courting recruits.
“Our boosters just love him,” Barnum said. “It was a risk because I was on the interim gig. But I went on the history and gambled on what I knew. Thank God he’s got the old man’s (football) knowledge and his mother’s personality.”
Still, not all has been smooth. While Patterson excels in the film room evaluating potential recruits and breaking down game film, he’s still learning his way on the practice field, Barnum said.
Bishop Gorman High graduate AC Patterson is the offensive line coach for the Portland State football team. At age 23, he is one of the youngest coaches in college football.
Patterson is laid back in his coaching style and only yells when necessary. It’s similar to how his dad approaches coaching.
“We have a lot in common. We aren’t huge yellers or screamers,” AC Patterson said. “We are more teachers rather than yellers or screamers. I want to teach you to do it correctly.”
Father and son were briefly part of the same coaching staff last summer with the Minnesota Vikings. AC, on a summer internship, helped with the offensive line. His dad handled the defensive line.
And the players had plenty of laughs at their expense.
“The players for the Vikings gave us a bad time because he stands like me and he holds his hands like I do on the field,” Andre Patterson said.
AC Patterson is just getting started. He’s lived in nine states and knows the journey of a football coach will take him to more places along the way. But after one season at Portland State, he’s ready for the adventure. Coaching is in his blood; it’s his calling.
“Being around coaching my whole life, I knew this is what I wanted to do,” he said.
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AC Patterson was determined to follow in his dad’s career path and become a football coach. It’s just Andre Patterson advised his only son to steer clear of the profession.
The older Patterson, from more than three decades in the business, knows coaching isn’t an easy lifestyle — everything from poor job security, long hours and constant travel easily take its toll, especially on families.
Still, coaching was something the younger Patterson, a Bishop Gorman High graduate, couldn’t resist. The 23-year-old was one of the youngest coaches in college football last fall in his first season as Portland State’s offensive line coach, quickly adapting to a lifestyle he grew up in and seemed destined to join.
Even if it was against his family’s wishes.
“To be honest with you, I tried to talk him out of coaching,” said Andre Patterson, the Minnesota Vikings’ defensive line coach who previously was part of Mike Sanford’s UNLV staff.
“I said, ‘Are you sure this is what you want to do with as many places you have had to live and as many times you changed schools.’ He told me he turned out all right.”
Patterson played on Gorman’s offensive line for two state championship seasons and received a college scholarship to UTEP. But after a fourth knee surgery, he had to stop playing before his college eligibility expired. Then UTEP coach Mike Price kept him on scholarship, giving him his first break in coaching: Patterson would help coaches break down game film.
As a child, he followed his dad to NFL training camps, working as a ball boy with the Denver Broncos and eating in the cafeteria with Dallas Cowboys players. He was there when Emmitt Smith broke the NFL rushing record and played catch as a toddler with Randy Moss.
Along the way, he became a student of the game and learned how it was supposed to be played. Coaching was a natural fit.
“As long as you know what you are talking about, the players have respect for that,” AC Patterson said.
For all of its drawbacks, coaching is a difficult profession to get into. Most who are Patterson’s age work as graduate assistants, or are still playing themselves. Portland State had two players, none on the offensive line, who were older.
But Portland State coach Bruce Barnum is a longtime friend of the Pattersons. Andre Patterson gave Barnum his first job, and Barnum met AC days after he was born. He knew what kind person he was offering a job to.
“I know his pedigree because I’ve known his dad forever,” Barnum said. “I knew there would be things he would have to learn, but the guys on staff could bring him along. ...I knew hiring him would be a hit. Turns out it was a home run.”
Barnum was Portland State’s interim coach in the offseason when he took a calculated risk at hiring Patterson. But Portland State won nine games, including the season opener against Washington State, and Barnum was given the job on a permanent basis. It was one of the best seasons in Portland State history.
“I’ve been around football my whole life, but here we are (at Washington State) and there’s a lot of nerves,” Patterson said. “I knew we had a pretty good game plan. Nobody expected us to win, but we stuck around long enough and found some running plays that worked. It was a great upset for us.”
Barnum has helped ease the transition. Last spring, he accompanied Patterson on recruiting in-house visits to bridge the learning curve — just like Andre Patterson did with him. This offseason, Patterson is on his own courting recruits.
“Our boosters just love him,” Barnum said. “It was a risk because I was on the interim gig. But I went on the history and gambled on what I knew. Thank God he’s got the old man’s (football) knowledge and his mother’s personality.”
Still, not all has been smooth. While Patterson excels in the film room evaluating potential recruits and breaking down game film, he’s still learning his way on the practice field, Barnum said.
Bishop Gorman High graduate AC Patterson is the offensive line coach for the Portland State football team. At age 23, he is one of the youngest coaches in college football.
Patterson is laid back in his coaching style and only yells when necessary. It’s similar to how his dad approaches coaching.
“We have a lot in common. We aren’t huge yellers or screamers,” AC Patterson said. “We are more teachers rather than yellers or screamers. I want to teach you to do it correctly.”
Father and son were briefly part of the same coaching staff last summer with the Minnesota Vikings. AC, on a summer internship, helped with the offensive line. His dad handled the defensive line.
And the players had plenty of laughs at their expense.
“The players for the Vikings gave us a bad time because he stands like me and he holds his hands like I do on the field,” Andre Patterson said.
AC Patterson is just getting started. He’s lived in nine states and knows the journey of a football coach will take him to more places along the way. But after one season at Portland State, he’s ready for the adventure. Coaching is in his blood; it’s his calling.
“Being around coaching my whole life, I knew this is what I wanted to do,” he said.
