TCU athletics director Danny Morrison continued to say Monday that he’s not surprised head football coach Gary Patterson’s name keeps cropping up as head coaching jobs open. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported Friday that Patterson was in talks with officials from the University of Minnesota for the head coaching job. According to a Dec. 6 ESPN article, Patterson has also been considered for other head coaching positions.
Patterson’s name was mentioned as a possible replacement at the University of Miami, a position that has since been filled.
Shortly after noon Friday, Patterson had denied being in contact with Minnesota officials in a brief interview.
Patterson was in his office early Friday afternoon preparing to host possible future football players.
“We’ve got recruits coming in,” Patterson said.
Morrison said Monday, that he hopes Patterson will stay at TCU.
“It would surprise me if he’s not on everyone’s list,” Morrison said. “He’s a terrific coach and doing a wonderful job. We hope that he’s here for a long, long time.”
According to the Star-Telegram, Patterson was scheduled to meet with Minnesota officials on Friday to discuss replacing their former head football coach, Glen Mason.
It was reported in the Minneapolis Star Tribune that Minnesota athletic director Joel Maturi and associate athletic directors Marc Ryan and Tom Wistrcill interviewed Patterson on Friday.
They met at an undisclosed location in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, according to the Star Tribune. The Star-Telegram reported that Patterson did not receive a job offer, and that it is believed he will not be leaving TCU.
According to the Star-Telegram, any university considering Patterson would have to pay TCU $1 million – the price the school has set as his buyout.
Minnesota Gophers head coach Mason was fired Dec. 31 two days after a devastating overtime loss to the Texas Tech Red Raiders in the Insight Bowl.
The Gophers hope their search for a new coach will be over by the middle of this week.
Minnesota has hired a TCU coach before in Jim Wacker, who left the Horned Frogs after the 1991 season.
Wacker’s record while coaching the Horned Frogs was 40-58-2 in nine seasons, whereas Patterson’s record is currently 54-20 in six seasons. Patterson has also had four 10-victory seasons in the past five years.
Patterson did not return phone calls or e-mails seeking further comment. Mark Cohen, director of athletics media relations for TCU, also declined to comment.