Texas moving closer to hiring Gary Patterson on staff?

While there’s nothing concrete yet showing that the Texas football program will for sure hire the former longtime TCU Horned Frogs head coach Gary Patterson in any certain role, the rumors are starting to become regular conversation around the Forty Acres. Texas being able to hire Patterson would obviously be a tremendous game-changer for this program, but how (or even if), this happens entering next offseason.

TCU parted ways with Patterson as their head coach earlier this season after a 3-5 start. The midseason departure for Patterson with the Horned Frogs was a bit surprising, but TCU probably wanted some time to find their next head coach before the Early Signing Period arrives.

The first piece that appeared around the Longhorns media landscape connecting the idea of bringing in Patterson to Texas was brought about by Brian Davis of the Austin American-Statesman this week. Davis noted that “if you truly want to fix the defense, go get Patterson ASAP”.

Texas football bringing on former TCU HC Gary Patterson is reportedly an increasingly probable occurrence

Granted, this piece from Davis on Nov. 30 didn’t specifically mention that the Texas administration or football coaching staff was having any meaningful conversations known to the public regarding him joining the mix. This just detailed the value that hiring Patterson to the table could bring for the Longhorns if this were to happen.

Yet, there was a report that emerged from Eric Nahlin of Inside Texas on Dec. 2 (paid content from the On3 Network) that detailed that there are continued “rumblings” that Texas hiring Patterson is something that could actually happen. There is a relevant connection between the Texas administration and Patterson. And the hiring of the former SMU Mustangs head coach Sonny Dykes at TCU apparently doesn’t sit well with Patterson.

Patterson has ties back to Texas athletic director Chris del Conte, as the two were both at TCU together for a good while.

That could push Patterson to do something like take a job on staff with new head coach Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns entering the offseason.

There is no certainty yet as to what role Patterson could fill on the Texas coaching staff. No concrete reports/discussions have surfaced as of yet concerning turnover on the Texas defensive coaching staff in 2022.

Texas finished up the regular season on Black Friday (Nov. 26) with a win over the Kansas State Wildcats at home by the final score of 22-17. That gave Sark and the Longhorns a record of 5-7 (3-6 Big 12) to finish up the 2021 campaign.