Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content
Keith Patterson UAC 2024 Coach of the Year

Football Evan Nemec

ACU's Keith Patterson Voted UAC Coach of the Year

It's the second conference coaching award in three years for Patterson.

ACU head football coach Keith Patterson has done it again. For the second time in his three years leading the Wildcats, Patterson has earned his conference's top coaching award.

Patterson's fellow United Athletic Conference head coaches voted him as the 2024 UAC Coach of the Year, the conference announced on Friday. Patterson was named the WAC Coach of the Year in 2022.

"Coach Patterson is so deserving of this honor. It is not only a recognition of his leadership, but also the incredible work by our entire coaching and support staffs to put our student-athletes into positions to be successful," said Vice President for Athletics Zack Lassiter.

ACU accomplished many 'firsts' in the Division I era this season -- first national ranking, first conference championship, first FCS Playoffs appearance and first FCS Playoffs win. The Wildcats finished 9-5 and reached the second round of the postseason.

The memorable season began with taking the Texas Tech Red Raiders to overtime in the opening game, and continued with victories over three FCS Top 25 teams and a first-round shutout of Northern Arizona at Wildcat Stadium.

ACU's win over No. 5 Central Arkansas in October set a new mark for highest ranked Division I victory. Four consecutive conference wins culminated with a 35-31 comeback at Tarleton State for the UAC Championship.

The Wildcats were then seeded No. 15 in the FCS Playoffs and the right to host their first round game against Northern Arizona. ACU's defense shredded the Lumberjacks in a 24-0 shutout for the team's first postseason win since 2009.

"KP challenged our players all season to leave the jersey, and the man inside the jersey, better than they found it," said Lassiter.

"We are blessed to have a servant leader as our head football coach, and I believe our best days are still to come."
Print Friendly Version