Gary Patterson to step away from position with Texas

Texas special assistant Gary Patterson is planning to step away from the role, he told Horns247’s Chip Brown Thursday. He served in the role last year following his run as the head coach at TCU.

Patterson spent 21 years as the Horned Frogs’ head coach, amassing a 181-79 record in that time. After he and TCU parted ways, he came aboard Steve Sarkisian’s staff for the 2022 season as a special assistant, but now wants to “help college football on a bigger scale,” as he told Brown.

“I’m so appreciative of Steve Sarkisian, the players and fans for my time at Texas this past year,” Patterson said. “I loved my time in Austin. I jumped into that role right after leaving TCU, and I put off a lot of stuff foundation-wise, because I wanted to be a sponge. I wanted to see how the coaches on staff there (at Texas), who have been at places like Alabama and Washington, recruit; how they handle practice; and how they handle things like NIL (name, image and likeness).

“I learned so much and have so much respect for guys like Pete Kwiatkowski and Jeff Choate and Bo Davis, and really, really enjoyed the players. Who knows? Maybe I’ll get to August and I’ll want to come back — if Sark would have me. But right now, I feel like I need to take some time for my wife, kids and grandkids while also looking to see if I can help college football on a larger scale.”

Patterson parted ways with TCU on Oct. 31, 2021. In January 2022, Texas officially hired him, and he cited that quick turnaround as a reason for his decision. He wants to spend some more time with his family.

“I didn’t take any real time for family after leaving TCU and going to Austin,” Patterson said. “I need to take my wife, Kelsey, on a nice vacation and spend some time with my kids and grandkids.”