Steve Sarkisian addresses the possibility of Gary Patterson returning to Texas staff

Steve Sarkisian had a special assistant in Austin last season, with Gary Patterson wearing burnt orange and working with the Texas Longhorns. While Patterson never had an on-field role, the Longhorns saw their defense improve in a big way. Maybe not too big of a surprise with how well for former TCU head coach fared against Big 12 opponents.

At the end of the year, Patterson decided to step away from the program. However, as we draw closer to the beginning of the 2023 season, there have been rumors of his return. According to Sarkisian, there is nothing to see “right now.”

“Gary was a tremendous asset for us a year ago,” Sarkisian said on Tuesday. “He did a really good job in the program. Stepped away at the end of the season. As of right now, he’s not part of the program. We’ll see where it goes from here.”

Even when Patterson stepped away in March, he hinted at a potential return. In a statement via Chip Brown of Horns247, Patterson said some time off was needed but the itch to get back in football may return.

“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,” Patterson said. “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 spent over two decades in Fort Worth, nearly two of which were while TCU called the Big 12 their home. The Horned Frogs had a great amount of success, especially for a program jumping from the Group of Five level to the Power Five. His defenses gave opposing head coaches headaches on a weekly basis.

So when TCU decided to move on from Patterson, Sarkisian saw an opportunity to bring in an experienced coach to help the program — something similar to what his most recent mentor, Nick Saban, would do for Alabama. It turned into just a one-year deal but both sides seem willing to extend the relationship.

If Patterson does return to Austin, he will be helping Texas in their final season in the Big 12. The goal is to win a conference championship and go out on top. Gary Patterson would be a massive help to the efforts, giving Sarkisian an extra leg over opponents.