McCarney Hires Kevin Patrick As UNT Defensive Line Coach

[Harry]

DENTON, Texas – North Texas head coach Dan McCarney has announced the hiring of Kevin Patrick as the new defensive line coach. Patrick, who spent the last six seasons at South Florida, is one of the nation’s top recruiters and has produced three NFL draft picks, including first-rounder Jason Pierre-Paul who was the 15^th overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft.

“I am so thrilled to be able to add Kevin to our coaching staff,” said McCarney. “He has coached some of the best players in the nation on the defensive line and sent numerous guys to the NFL. He brings in a wealth of experience and will be a great addition to our program.”

Patrick followed up McCarney as the defensive line coach at USF after McCarney went to Florida in 2008. He replaces Mike Nelson who is retiring after a five seasons with North Texas and a coaching career that spanned over 30 years. Nelson and McCarney coached a total of 13 seasons together at Iowa State and North Texas.

“I’m very grateful for the opportunity to have coached with such a great person and teacher like Mike Nelson,” McCarney said. “He has been such a loyal person and I can’t thank him enough for all that he did at Iowa State with me and then again here with North Texas. He’s a great coach and one of the best in the business and we will all miss him.”

While at South Florida, Patrick developed some of the top defensive lineman in the country. Pierre-Paul was a first-team All-American selection by Pro Football Weekly in 2009. Pierre-Paul was also named first-team all-conference by the BIG EAST coaches, ESPN, Rivals.com and the Sporting News along with second-team honors by Phil Steele.

In addition to his work with Pierre Paul, Patrick’s defensive line unit included current Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman George Selvie and Houston Texans defensive tackle Terrell McClain. Under Patrick’s leadership, Selvie earned All-BIG EAST Second Team honors and was a seventh round draft pick by the St. Louis Rams in 2010.

In 2007 McCarney coached Selvie in his sophomore season to a first-team All-American honor and Patrick coached Selvie in his junior season to another All-American season in 2008. McClain was a third round draft pick in 2011 by the Carolina Panthers after earning first-team All-BIG EAST honors his senior year at South Florida.

In 2011, Patrick's tackles contributed to USF finishing second nationally in tackles for loss and fourth in sacks, while only allowing 107.3 rushing yards per game (15th NCAA). The Bulls were led by the tackle trio of Keith McCaskill, Cory Grissom and Elkino Watson, who combined for 6.5 sacks and 23 tackles for loss.

In 2010, Patrick guided a unit that helped the defense rank 17th in total defense (317.9 ypg), 22nd in scoring defense (20.0 ppg) and 22nd in rushing defense (125.6 ypg). USF's defensive ends posted 21.5 of the Bulls' 25 sacks on the season in 2009, along with 37 tackles for loss. The defensive line anchored a defensive unit that finished second in the BIG EAST in scoring defense in 2009 and third in total defense led by Pierre-Paul.

Patrick flourished during his first season back with the Bulls. He helped defensive end George Selvie repeat as a first team All-American and assisted a defensive unit that ranked No. 10 nationally in total defense.

Patrick also reeled in a pair of national awards on the recruiting trail. Rivals named him one of the top 25 recruiters in America and the top recruiter in the BIG EAST in 2009. The acclaim came after four-star recruits Ryne Giddens, Jacquain Williams, Jason Pierre-Paul and Julius Forte inked with USF on National Signing Day.

During his playing days, Patrick was an All-American defensive end at the University of Miami from 1989-93. He was a major contributor on the Hurricane team that claimed two National Championships with wins over Nebraska in the 1992 Orange Bowl and over Alabama in the 1990 Sugar Bowl. Patrick also played in the Cotton and Fiesta Bowls during his career.

He is one of two individuals in the USF program that has earned BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year honors. Patrick claimed his in 1993, while two-time All-American George Selvie earned that honor in 2007.

Patrick earned All-America honors and team MVP accolades in 1993, when he collected 10 sacks. During his career, he tallied 174 tackles and 23 sacks, which ranks fifth in program history.

He graduated from Miami in 1994 with a degree in business administration. Patrick was a four-year letterwinner in football at Forest Hill High School in West Palm Beach, Fla., graduating in 1989. He also was a two-year letterwinner in track and field, throwing the shot put and discus his junior and senior years.
Patrick and his wife Rachel have two daughters - Grace and Belle.

Patrick’s Experience

Collegiate Playing Experience:
Four year letterwinner, defensive end, University of Miami

Coaching Experience:
South Florida, Defensive Ends, 1996-98
South Florida – Defensive Ends/Tackles/Line, 2008-13

NFL Proteges
Jarriett Buie Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Terrell McClain Houston Texans
Jason Pierre-Paul New York Giants
George Selvie Dallas Cowboys

Read more: http://www.meangreensports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/012414aaa.html

[Christopher Walker]

Loooooove this hire.

[Mean Green 93-98]

Loooooove this hire.

Me three. I'm looking forward to seeing what next year's D-line recruiting class looks like, not to mention what kind of juniors and seniors we'll have developed in 4 or 5 years. Great hire.

[BillySee58]

Me three. I'm looking forward to seeing what next year's D-line recruiting class looks like, not to mention what kind of juniors and seniors we'll have developed in 4 or 5 years. Great hire.

Bingo. I also wonder if we'll go after any Florida kids this upcoming class. Not that we need to, but I'm sure he has relationships with a lot of coaches and players over there. Very impressive how quick he built a relationship with TJ Tauaalo over here though.

[KRAM1]

Another good hire it appears. Welcome Coach Patrick!

[NT03]

Very impressive how quick he built a relationship with TJ Tauaalo over here though.

He was probably sitting in TJ's house and his phone started buzzing.. .. "Sorry , I gotta take this call. It's my buddy Dwayne Johnson"

[BillySee58]

He was probably sitting in TJ's house and his phone started buzzing.. .. "Sorry , I gotta take this call. It's my buddy Dwayne Johnson"

I lol'd

[Harry]

Kevin Patrick, University of Miami teammate (defensive end, 1989-1993): "At that time in college football I don’t think there was any doubt the University of Miami was at the top of their game. If you were on that team and a scholarship player, you were highly recognized.

"You look at those rosters that Dewey was a part of, they were loaded with talent and he was competitive.

"I can remember one of the first times he was on campus, it was an official visit. Our D-line coach [Orgeron], who was recruiting him, he was very proud, and he says, 'Look at my new dog.'

"And you look over and there’s this yoked-up kid with muscles everywhere walking around on the field. He got everyone’s attention. He was a physical specimen from Day 1. He didn’t just become one as soon as he became a wrestler.

Orgeron: "As a freshman, he came out, and back then we didn’t play too many freshmen. But he was very strong, he had some great practices and we were able to play him as a freshman, and at one point we thought maybe we’d start him as a freshman.

"The problem with Dwayne was there was a guy named Warren Sapp who came along the next year."

Read more: http://espn.go.com/blog/playbook/fandom/post/_/id/15186/how-good-was-the-rock-at-football

[mccox2]

Great hire and an upside for the defensive coaching staff. Interested on seeing how much energy he'll bring to the program and how his experience will immediately impact the players. Also, he'll open up some recruiting holes in Florida with some of his connections which will certainly help us MAYBE pull some "on the fence" recruits away from schools like FIU and FAU.