Patterson hopes he's the 'last piece'

Ex-TCU coach jumps back into college game as USC's defensive coordinator

- RYAN KARTJE

RONALDO BOLAÑOS Los Angeles Times FORMER TCU coach Gary Patterson gives the Trojan salute during a news conference Wednesday at USC.

When Gary Patterson resigned as coach of Texas Christian in October 2021, midway through his 21st season with the Horned Frogs, the now-65year old coach decided to take a step back and reevaluate where he and the college game were headed.

"I'd had a job since I was 9 years old," Patterson said. "Just kind of wanted to take a break." For decades, football had been at the forefront of his family's life, so much so that his wife joked she was merely his "mistress." He wanted to spend time with her, with his grandkids. Plus, after a few seasons, he knew he'd be eligible for the College Football Hall of Fame, which was important to him.

RONALDO BOLAÑOS Los Angeles Times USC COACH Lincoln Riley knew Gary Patterson from their days in the Big 12.

Patterson ended up filling that time with football anyway. He watched the game from afar, helping out as a consultant on staffs at Texas and Baylor, even working with Amazon Prime's football coverage, just to score a subscription to Catapult, all along biding his time for the right opportunity to come along.

It came four years after his departure from Fort Worth, earlier this month in the form of a text message from USC coach Lincoln Riley, whom he knew from their days coaching in the Big 12.

The Trojans' defensive coordinator, D'Anton Lynn, had left in late December for the same job at Penn State.

Riley needed a replacement.