EDIT: Finally, confirmation from UTEP of its football coaching changes. The Times’ Bret Bloomquist
confirms today what was speculated in the Las Vegas Sun
last week — that UNLV defensive line coach Andre Patterson will be named UTEP’s new defensive coordinator.
Patterson will take over for Osia Lewis, whose departure was
confirmed by the Orlando Sentinel earlier this week.
Patterson, a Camden, Ark., native, coached for three seasons in Las Vegas. In 2009, he coached the defensive line while also serving as assistant head coach.
The Rebels’ base 4-3 defense finished the year ranked No. 115 nationally in total defense (No. 112 against the run, No. 86 against the pass). By comparison, UTEP finished the year ranked No. 110 in total defense (No. 106, run; No. 98 pass).
UNLV’s 2009 schedule included seven schools that went to bowls at the end of the season, including BCS buster Texas Christian. Those games accounted for all of the Rebels’ losses.
At UTEP, Patterson will inherit a defense that returns roughly six starters and features a slew of underclassmen that got playing time.
Patterson’s experience runs the gamut from high school to the NFL. He spent two seasons coaching the defensive line/tackles for the Denver Broncos (2005-06) and worked in similar capacities for the Cleveland Browns (2003-04), Dallas Cowboys (2000-02), Minnesota Vikings (1998-99) and New England Patriots (1997).
Patterson coached nine seasons in college before heading to the NFL. He was the head coach at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo from 1994 to ’96 and was named American West Conference Coach of the Year in 1994 as he led the Mustangs to the league title with a 7-4 record. Before that he was defensive line coach at Washington State (1992-93). He also coached at Cornell (1990-91) and served as the defensive coordinator at Western Washington (1989).
Before working as defensive line coach at Weber State in 1988, Patterson coached five years at the prep level at St. Monica Catholic High School in California (head coach, 1987) and Renton High School in Washington (1983-86). Patterson began his coaching career in 1982 as a graduate assistant for the University of Montana.
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