Friday, March 7, 2008 | 4:20 p.m.
UNLV head football coach Mike Sanford on Friday completed his 2008 staff with the announcement that former NFL assistant coach Andre Patterson has been hired as the Rebels' defensive line coach.
Patterson, 47, most recently spent two seasons coaching the defensive line/tackles for the Denver Broncos (2005-06) and has worked in similar capacities for the Cleveland Browns (2003-04), Dallas Cowboys (2000-02), Minnesota Vikings (1998-99) and New England Patriots (1997).
Some of the notable linemen that Patterson has coached include Gerard Warren, Ebenezer Ekuban (both the Browns and Broncos), La’Roi Glover (Cowboys) and Chris Doleman and John Randle (Vikings). He also coached former Rebel end Talance Sawyer when both were in Minnesota in 1999.
"Andre Patterson is simply a great addition to our football program," Sanford said. "His combination of experience as a college head football coach and 10 seasons as an outstanding defensive line coach in the NFL makes him a perfect fit for our staff."
Patterson coached nine seasons in college before heading to the NFL. He was the head coach at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo from 1994-96 and was named American West Conference Coach of the Year in 1994 as he led the Mustangs to the league title with a 7-4 record. Before that he was defensive line coach at Washington State (1992-93) and oversaw the development of two future NFL linemen (Chad Eaton and Lewis Bush) for the Cougars. He also coached the line at Cornell (1990-91) and served as the defensive coordinator at Western Washington (1989).
Before working as defensive line coach at Weber State in 1988, Patterson coached five years at the prep level at St. Monica High School in California (head coach, 1987) and Renton High School in Washington (1983-86).
Patterson began his coaching career in 1982 as a graduate assistant for the University of Montana, where he played one season of football after transferring from Contra Costa College in San Pablo, Calif. He graduated from the Big Sky Conference school with a bachelor’s degree in secondary education in 1983.
"I'm excited about the opportunity and about the direction that the Rebel football program is headed," Patterson said. "It feels good to get back into college football and be around young men who are playing for the love of the sport. I’ve always had a fond place in my heart for the college game."
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