Texas officially announces hire of Gary Patterson as special assistant

The moment Texas football fans were waiting for a good while now has finally happened. Texas officially announced the hire of the former TCU Horned Frogs longtime head coach Gary Patterson to this coaching staff under second-year head coach Steve Sarkisian.

After what felt like weeks of the Longhorns being in discussions with, and finally hiring, Patterson, the addition of the former TCU head coach to this coaching staff finally arrived. It looked like Patterson was already on campus and working for the Longhorns football program earlier this week.

But it does make sense that Texas got the hiring of Patterson to this staff officially announced before National Signing Day next month and Junior Day this weekend. The impact that the addition of Patterson can have on the recruiting trail for the Longhorns is untold. And getting this officially announced at this point makes sense.

It was already pretty well known among the Longhorns faithful that Patterson was going to join the defensive coaching staff in some role. We just now know the official title that Patterson will hold on the Longhorns coaching staff.

Texas football finally officially announces the hire of Gary Patterson on staff

Patterson will be serving as the “special assistant to the head coach” on the Texas coaching staff. This is a rather new role where Patterson is likely going to have his voice heard throughout the game-planning and player evaluation process this offseason and next fall.

Player development is obviously going to be a key point of emphasis for the Longhorns under Sark and his staff in 2022. Texas really needs to make strides in 2022 compared to the disappointing results this team had in his first year at the helm last season.

And considering how poorly the Texas defense played in 2021, the value that the hiring of Patterson should bring to the table for this team in the Big 12 in 2022 should go without saying. Texas needs all the help they can get on defense in 2022, and a coach that was a real defensive-minded genius throughout much of his tenure in Fort Worth for the span of a little more than two decades is great for the Longhorns.

Texas finished up last season with a record of 5-7 (3-6 Big 12) following their Black Friday win in the regular season finale over the Kansas State Wildcats at home. The hope will be that Patterson is one factor that can help the Longhorns make some real strides, at least on the defensive side of the ball, in 2022.