Hampton University Athletics

HOMETOWN: Pittsburgh, Pa.
EDUCATION: B.S., Grove City, 2012
M.S., Slippery Rock, 2014
COACHING: Slippery Rock, 2012-15
                    Sam Houston State, 2016-20
                    Hampton, 2020-present
 
Zack Patterson joined the Hampton coaching staff in 2020 season as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach after a four-year stint at Sam Houston State as the running backs coach, and two seasons as run game coordinator.

Patterson was a standout performer during his playing days at Grove City. As a senior, he led the squad with 5.5 sacks and earned honorable mention All-Presidents Athletic Conference honors. He was a Dean’s List student and was named to the all-conference Academic Honor Roll.

He began his coaching career in 2012 as recruiting coordinator and quarterback coach at Slippery Rock under coach George Mihalik. In 2013, his coaching duties expanded to include coaching tight ends and assisting with recruiting and developing game plans. Under his guidance, quarterback Jared Buck was named Most Valuable Player of the 2014 PSAC Championship game.

As offensive coordinator, he coached the top scoring offense in Division II in 2015 and was a finalist for Football Scoop’s Division II Coordinator of the Year. Slippery Rock was ranked seventh nationally after advancing to the Division II championship quarterfinals. Slippery Rock made three consecutive Division II championship appearances during Patterson’s tenure on the staff.

In 2016, he moved to Sam Houston State where the offense flourished and Bearkat running backs earned three all-conference honors. The Sam Houston State offense led the nation in scoring with 49.5 points per game in 2016 and earned a No. 1 national ranking for the final six weeks of the regular season.

Patterson helped the Bearkats reach the FCS semifinals again in 2017 with an offense that led the nation in total yards and scoring (45.9). In his four years at Sam Houston State, the Bearkats averaged 2,083 rushing yards and 25 rushing touchdowns per season.

A native of Pittsburgh, Pa., Patterson received his bachelor’s degree from Grove City in 2012 and his master’s degree from Slippery Rock in 2014. He and his wife, Kelly, have a daughter, Zoey.