Gary Patterson is joining an elite class of coaches that currently includes only Nick Saban and Bill Snyder (and used to include Joe Paterno...and soon enough will include Bob Stoops) as current head coaches that have a statue of themselves on campus.
Patterson took over the TCU program in 2000 and his tenure started with a loss in the Alabama Bowl. In the years that followed Patterson catapulted the program to new heights, staking their claim as one of the top defensive units in football year in an year out, en route to double-digit win seasons in 10 of his 15 full seasons at the helm.
In his only head coaching job with the Horned Frogs, Patterson has compiled an impressive 142-47 record overall.
After fighting it for five years, Patterson finally gave in to the demands of TCU Chancellor Victor Boschini, who wanted to honor him with a bronze statue that will be placed in the shadows of the stadium.
Boschini told the Express News, “It’s taken me five years. I finally convinced him that it wasn’t for him, but TCU.”
“He’s become an icon while alive and did that through virtue of his hard work and personality. He doesn’t demand attention. He commands it.” Boschini added.
Patterson may not be crazy about the idea of a statue of him on campus, but it's certainly a fitting tribute to a man that has meant so much to the TCU program and campus community.