Baylor to add Gary Patterson as Senior Level Strategic Consultant

Baylor football head coach Dave Aranda is set to hire former TCU head coach Gary Patterson as a Senior Level Strategic Consultant, SicEm365 has confirmed through a source.  In this role, Patterson will help Baylor’s staff with break down of upcoming opponents while also self-scouting Baylor’s offense and defense during the season.  

Patterson was the head coach at TCU for 22 seasons beginning in 2000 after three seasons as a defensive coordinator beginning in 1998. He complied an 181-79 overall record during his time at TCU. 

At the time of his resignation at TCU, Patterson was tied for second nationally among active FBS head coaches in most AP Top-10 finishes with six (2008, 2009, 2010, 2014, 2015, 2017). He's also second among active head coaches in most top-25 finishes with 11.

During his time at TCU, since the NCAA began tracking statistics in 1937, TCU trailed only Alabama for the most times leading the nation in total defense. The Crimson Tide had been No. 1 six times, while all five No. 1 rankings (2000, 2002, 2008, 2009, 2010) for the Horned Frogs are in the last 20 seasons under Patterson. From 2008-10, TCU became just the third program in NCAA history to lead the nation in total defense in three consecutive seasons.

The hire of Patterson is key for Aranda who is set to work alongside defensive coordinator Matt Powledge and become the defensive play caller for Baylor in the 2024 season, while also coaching the interior linebackers.

Patterson, who has a prior relationship with Aranda prior to his time in Waco, checked multiple boxes in the search for a candidate to fill the position, including experience as a head coach and a pedigreed defensive background to help the transition.

Patterson was most recently a defensive analyst at the University of Texas in the 2022 season.