The call came on a Thursday night asking for a Friday interview. By Sunday evening there was an offer to become Abilene Christian’s 21st head football coach. 

Keith Patterson needed someone to pinch him. Was this real?

“I had really thought that window of opportunity [to become a collegiate head coach] had slipped me by to be honest with you,” said Patterson, who was in his third season as Texas Tech’s defensive coordinator at the time. “It just all happened so fast all while we’re trying to prepare for the Liberty Bowl and Mississippi State. But it was all perfect timing.”

Patterson couldn’t accept the offer fast enough. It was yet another opportunity in a decorated career to accomplish what he originally set out to do when he got into the profession back in 1986 as a graduate assistant at East Central University.

“I got into coaching for all the right reasons,” said Patterson, who was Allen High School’s head coach from 1995-96 and 2000-02 before taking DC positions at Tulsa, Pitt, West Virginia, Arizona State, Utah State and Texas Tech. “I wanted to make an impact on the lives of people first and foremost just because of the impact coaches had on my personal life. Growing up in the home of a coach, it was very important to me to do it the right way.” 

Shortly after Patterson’s Red Raider defense held Mike Leach’s high-octane Mississippi State offense to just seven points in a blowout victory, he arrived in Abilene eager to get the Wildcats back on track after three straight seasons with a losing record, including a 5-6 mark in 2021.
 
“It’s been extremely busy just making sure that we have the right staff and build relationships with one another, familiarizing ourselves with the university and the young men that are currently on campus and then recruiting,” Patterson said. “I really like the progress we’ve made throughout the first few months here and I look forward to a great future.”

Patterson brought on former Mary Hardin-Baylor coach Stephen Lee as offensive coordinator and bright young mind Skyler Cassity as defensive coordinator; Cassity previously spent two seasons coaching outside linebackers, nickels and safeties at Missouri State where the Bears finished sixth nationally in turnovers forced in 2021.

Lee will be the architect of an offense that Patterson expects to be explosive and high-flying with returnee Peyton Mansell leading the way at quarterback. The Iowa transfer (by way of Belton High School) started for the Wildcats in 2020 before losing the job to Stone Earle last season. He assumed starting duties when Earle went out with a season-ending injury against Lamar in the seventh game of season; Earle has since transferred to North Texas.

“Here’s a young man that’s extremely mature,” Patterson said of Mansell. “He comes in from the University of Iowa and has the experience and all the intangibles that you look for.”

Mansell completed 65 percent of his passes for 1,108 yards and five touchdowns against eight interceptions in 2021 and was second on the team in rushing with 516 yards and a team-high six rushing TDs.

There’s promise behind Mansell, they just lack experience. Patterson liked what he saw in the spring from Central Arkansas transfer Hunter Loyd, who had a big touchdown run in the spring game, as well as freshman Hayden Anderson (Keller).

There’s no shortage of playmakers for these QBs to get the ball to. ACU returns its top three receiving threats from a season ago in Kobe Clark (64 catches for 741 yards and eight touchdowns), Denver Holman (22-338-2) and Davion Johnson (31-239-3). 

“We’re going to try to bring in some size,” Patterson added. “All of ours look like slot receivers.”

Tyrese White returns after leading the Wildcats in rushing with 550 yards to go along with Anthony Smith and Jermiah Dobbins.

Patterson called his tight ends the “most solid position on the team from top to bottom” with the likes of Noah Caldwell, Colt Cooper, and Grant Miles. 

The offensive line will be in good hands with Reese Moore (Seminole, Texas) and Jacob Thielen, a converted defensive lineman. Patterson is eager to get freshmen Dylan Kinney and Joziah Fogle on campus.

Defensively, Patterson said freshman defensive lineman Tyrin Bradley “jumped off the radar” to him, and that he loves what he’s seen from freshman linebacker Cirby Coheley and safety Elijah Moffett.

There’s plenty more talent on the way via the transfer portal and the 2022 recruiting class.

“I’ve been told by a lot of people that the recruiting class we have coming in is one of the best they’ve seen here in a long time,” Patterson said. “I sound like a broken record, but we have to add players at every single position. Our team is going to change a lot from now to Aug. 1.” 

Quick Facts
2021 Record: 5-6
Head Coach: Keith Patterson, 1st season

Top 5 Impact Players:
1.    WR Kobe Clark: Led team with 741 receiving yards and eight TD catches last season.
2.    QB Peyton Mansell: Iowa transfer led team in rushing TDs in 2021.
3.    S Elijah Moffett: Leader of secondary led Wildcats with two interceptions and was third with 61 tackles a year ago.
4.    OL Reese Moore: The Texas transfer will assume leadership responsibilities up front for what Patterson hopes is a high-flying offense.
5.    RB Tyrese White: Team leader in rushing yards (550) spearheads a talented group of returning RBs.

Grading the Offense:
Quarterbacks: B
Running Backs: B
Receivers/Tight Ends: A
Offensive Line: C+

Grading the Defense:
Defensive Line: B
Linebackers: B-
Defensive Backs: B+
Special Teams: B+