MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — TCU head coach Gary Patterson and WVU defensive coordinator Vic Koenning will face off Friday in Fort Worth, Texas, but they had a different kind of meeting nearly four decades ago in Manhattan, Kan.
While Koenning was a part of the Kansas State football team, he hosted a spry recruit in Patterson on his official visit. Koenning doesn’t recall much from the trip as far as football goes, but there may have been some extra-curricular activities involved.
“I think, if I remember right, I took him to a fraternity party and we may have absconded with a half keg or something and had our own fun,” Koenning said. “I don’t remember the details — I probably don’t need to remember all of them — but we’ve been good friends and we’ve shared a lot of positive things. He’s been a wonderful friend to be over the years.”
Patterson must have had a good time on his visit since he decided to transfer from Dodge City Community College to K-State prior to the 1980 season. He and Koenning were both linebackers with the Wildcats from 1980-81, so they spent a lot of time together in the same position room, which helped spark the friendship from the start.
Each went their separate ways when entering the coaching field and never crossed paths at the same school along the way, but that doesn’t mean they didn’t stay in contact with one another.
When Koenning was let go as head coach at Wyoming following the 2002 season after three years at the helm for the Cowboys, Patterson reached out for support. When Patterson’s parents passed away recently, Koenning made sure to offer condolences.
Koenning has even become friends with Patterson’s brother, Greg, and there are mutual friends across the board.
Even on the field, similar defensive philosophies are apparent between Patterson’s and Koenning’s schemes — rotating down linemen, two linebackers and five defensive backs are a staple for both coaches.
“Gary has done as good a job as anyone in college football — his record speaks for itself,” Koenning said. “He’s probably one of, if not the best, defensive coach in the country. He’s gotta be in the one or two. I can’t say enough about Gary and the job he’s done and the person that he is.”
Patterson and TCU (5-6, 3-5 Big 12) are fighting for their bowl lives against the Mountaineers (4-7, 2-6), but Patterson’s overall track record with the Horned Frogs is stellar. In his 22nd season with the program — 20 as head coach — Patterson has coached to six conference titles (one Conference USA, three Mountain West and one Big 12) and has won New Years Six bowl games (2011 Rose Bowl and 2014 Peach Bowl).
TCU even erected a statue of Patterson, unveiled in 2016.
Patterson put the Horned Frogs on the map, but Koenning knows it wasn’t easy for him to get there. Patterson coached nine different teams in 15 years from 1983-97.
“He’s had to work his way and scratch and claw to where he’s at,” Koenning said. “He’s earned everything he’s gotten and obviously, he knows how to do it.”
