Gary Patterson joining Baylor staff: Ex-TCU coach will serve in advisory role for former rival

Former TCU coach Gary Patterson is joining Baylor’s staff as a senior advisor, according to 247Sports and multiple reports. Patterson spent some time away from the game in 2023 and most recently served as a special assistant to Texas coach Steve Sarkisian in 2022.

This latest move serves as a ray of hope on the bluebonnet battle lines for Patterson, who spent more than two decades with the Horned Frogs, first as an assistant and then as a legendary coach. He joined TCU in 1998 as the defensive coordinator and safeties coach and was promoted in 2001 after coach Dennis Franchione left for Alabama. Patterson held the position until his resignation eight games into the 2021 season.

Patterson is the winningest coach in TCU history with an overall record of 181–79, including a record of 113–59 in conference games. He led the Horned Frogs through three conference changes, a journey that ultimately brought them to the Big 12, and won a total of six league titles, including four Mountain West Conference championships, from 2005–11. TCU finished in the top 10 of the AP Top 25 six times during Patterson’s tenure. Under Patterson, TCU won at least 10 games in 11 of 21 seasons.

The Horned Frogs renewed their rivalry with Baylor – which had been on hiatus since 2007 and had not been played annually since 1995 – in 2010. Things accelerated when TCU joined the Big 12 in 2012, adding an additional stake to one of Texas. The darkest fights. For what it’s worth, Patterson was quite effective against his new employer. TCU holds a 10–4 record against Baylor from 2006–21, and Patterson has won five of its last six meetings against Baylor.