TCU coach Gary Patterson – watch out for his Frogs. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
TCU head football coach Gary Patterson has been selected as the 2018 recipient of the Gene Stallings Award, a news release announced.
Every year, Dr Pepper presents The Stallings Award to an NCAA Division I college football head coach who is recognized in the community as both a humanitarian and exceptional coach.
Patterson, the nation’s second-longest tenured head coach, is TCU’s all-time winningest football coach with 160 victories. His .737 winning percentage (160-57) is fourth among active coaches nationally (minimum 10 years experience), the release detailed.
Patterson has received 20 national coach of the year awards. He also led TCU to conference championships in three different leagues (C-USA, Mountain West, Big 12), winning coach of the year honors in all three conferences. The release said he has produced at least 11 wins in 10 of the last 15 seasons and helped lead the Horned Frogs to eight conference titles and 18 bowl games in 20 years.
During his head coaching tenure, Patterson has had 42 players drafted with 100 in NFL camps.
The awards namesake is legendary coach Gene Stallings as a tribute to his late son Johnny and those who triumph no matter their circumstances. Those given this honor are known for making a difference in the lives of the players they know and in the communities they live in.
The Stallings Award also makes a difference in its philanthropic mission, as the proceeds from the award banquet benefit The Rise Schools, which give students with intellectual disabilities the educational and social foundation to become contributing members of society.