Jay C. Upchurch
2/6/2006, 03:41 PM
NORMAN — James Patton, the offensive line coach at Northwestern
for the last five years, has been named to the same position at the
University of Oklahoma. OU head coach Bob Stoops made that announcement
Monday.
Stoops announced other moves on the Sooner staff, as well. Offensive
coordinator Kevin Wilson, the offensive line coach for the last four
years, will now coach tight ends and fullbacks. Kevin Sumlin, the tight
ends coach for the last three seasons, will now coach the receivers and
add the titles of co-offensive coordinator and passing game coordinator.
The changes came after Darrell Wyatt, who had been Oklahoma's receivers
coach and passing game coordinator, accepted a position with the
Minnesota Vikings.
"James did a great job at Northwestern and we're excited to have him
join our staff at Oklahoma," Stoops said. "He fits our style of
coaching and has the background and track record that we like. And the
consistently strong offensive units Northwestern has produced are
impressive. His relationship with Kevin Wilson and his knowledge of
our style of offense also made him attractive to us."
Patton's addition allowed Stoops to make other changes he desired on the
staff.
"I wanted to free up Kevin Wilson a little bit," Stoops said. "The
offensive line is a consuming job with 12 to 15 players and a lot of
different assignments. Now he'll coach a smaller group, but also be
right in the center of our offense and able to work centrally with both
the running and passing aspects of the offense.
"Kevin Sumlin has experienced a lot of success in some very good passing
offenses here, at Texas A&M, Purdue, Minnesota and Wyoming," Stoops
said. "That move was a natural. He will do a great job with our
receivers and in contributing to the leadership of our offense."
Ironically, it was Patton who replaced Wilson as Northwestern's
offensive line coach when Wilson left the Wildcat program to join the OU
staff at the end of the 2001 season. He also played at Miami when
Wilson was an assistant there and was a graduate assistant under Wilson
at the same school.
"Kevin was an outstanding mentor to me," Patton said. "It's great that
we have a chance to hook up again. We have a very good working
relationship. When he says something, I know how he wants it done."
Patton said OU's tradition and potential were strong lures in making the
move.
"This is an opportunity to be part of a national championship program,"
Patton said. "That's also a great challenge, but it's one I look
forward to. Coach Stoops is a very well-respected coach and I feel
fortunate to have this opportunity to work for under him."
Prior to his stint with the offensive line, Patton spent two years as
the tight ends and H-backs coach at Northwestern.
Northwestern finished 7-5 last season. The Wildcats ranked No. 4
nationally in total offense (500.3), No. 7 in passing offense (306.8),
No. 16 in turnover margin (+.75), No. 26 in rushing offense (193.4) and
No. 28 in scoring offense (33.9).
QB Brett Basanez ranked No. 3 in the nation in total offense with 337.1
yards per game, while running back Tyrell Sutton ranked No. 8 with 122.8
rushing yards per game. Sutton was also No. 16 in scoring with 9.0
points per game. WR Shaun Herbert was No. 20 in receptions per game at
6.6.
The Wildcats gave up just 11 sacks on the season and offensive lineman
Zach Strief was a first-team All-American by the Football Writers
Association of America.
Following his first season at Northwestern, Wildcat tight end Jay Tant
was picked by the Arizona Cardinals in the 2000 NFL draft. Two members
of his 2001 offensive line, Leon Brockmeier and Mike Souza, were invited
to play in one of the five postseason all-star games.
In 2002-03, Austin King and Jeff Roehl, participated in postseason
all-star games. King and Roehl are now playing for the Tampa Bay
Buccaneers and New York Giants, respectively.
NU's three senior linemen from 2004 -- Trai Essex, Ikechuku Ndukwe and
Matt Ulrich - all were on NFL rosters in 2005 with Essex picking up a
Super Bowl ring with Pittsburgh.
In 1998, Patton coached the tight ends and H-backs at his alma mater,
Miami University, another stop at which he coached with Wilson.
Patton, 34, earned four letters at Miami as a tight end. He tallied 45
catches for 504 yards and one touchdown during his four-year career,
including 16 catches for 166 yards his senior season. He was named a
captain his senior year, and earned first-team All-Mid-American
Conference honors.
After working as a graduate assistant for two seasons at Miami, Patton
joined the Rhode Island staff in 1995.
He was the Rams' tight end and tackles coach and served as the squad's
assistant strength and conditioning coach during the 1995 and 1996
seasons. He then served as the team's offensive line coach for the 1997
campaign. Patton earned a bachelor's degree in health and sports studies
in 1993 and a master's in sports psychology from Miami.
Patton, a native of Lafayette, Ohio, and his wife, Nichole, have a son,
Brayden, and two daughters, Katelynne and Maddie.
OU Sports Information
for the last five years, has been named to the same position at the
University of Oklahoma. OU head coach Bob Stoops made that announcement
Monday.
Stoops announced other moves on the Sooner staff, as well. Offensive
coordinator Kevin Wilson, the offensive line coach for the last four
years, will now coach tight ends and fullbacks. Kevin Sumlin, the tight
ends coach for the last three seasons, will now coach the receivers and
add the titles of co-offensive coordinator and passing game coordinator.
The changes came after Darrell Wyatt, who had been Oklahoma's receivers
coach and passing game coordinator, accepted a position with the
Minnesota Vikings.
"James did a great job at Northwestern and we're excited to have him
join our staff at Oklahoma," Stoops said. "He fits our style of
coaching and has the background and track record that we like. And the
consistently strong offensive units Northwestern has produced are
impressive. His relationship with Kevin Wilson and his knowledge of
our style of offense also made him attractive to us."
Patton's addition allowed Stoops to make other changes he desired on the
staff.
"I wanted to free up Kevin Wilson a little bit," Stoops said. "The
offensive line is a consuming job with 12 to 15 players and a lot of
different assignments. Now he'll coach a smaller group, but also be
right in the center of our offense and able to work centrally with both
the running and passing aspects of the offense.
"Kevin Sumlin has experienced a lot of success in some very good passing
offenses here, at Texas A&M, Purdue, Minnesota and Wyoming," Stoops
said. "That move was a natural. He will do a great job with our
receivers and in contributing to the leadership of our offense."
Ironically, it was Patton who replaced Wilson as Northwestern's
offensive line coach when Wilson left the Wildcat program to join the OU
staff at the end of the 2001 season. He also played at Miami when
Wilson was an assistant there and was a graduate assistant under Wilson
at the same school.
"Kevin was an outstanding mentor to me," Patton said. "It's great that
we have a chance to hook up again. We have a very good working
relationship. When he says something, I know how he wants it done."
Patton said OU's tradition and potential were strong lures in making the
move.
"This is an opportunity to be part of a national championship program,"
Patton said. "That's also a great challenge, but it's one I look
forward to. Coach Stoops is a very well-respected coach and I feel
fortunate to have this opportunity to work for under him."
Prior to his stint with the offensive line, Patton spent two years as
the tight ends and H-backs coach at Northwestern.
Northwestern finished 7-5 last season. The Wildcats ranked No. 4
nationally in total offense (500.3), No. 7 in passing offense (306.8),
No. 16 in turnover margin (+.75), No. 26 in rushing offense (193.4) and
No. 28 in scoring offense (33.9).
QB Brett Basanez ranked No. 3 in the nation in total offense with 337.1
yards per game, while running back Tyrell Sutton ranked No. 8 with 122.8
rushing yards per game. Sutton was also No. 16 in scoring with 9.0
points per game. WR Shaun Herbert was No. 20 in receptions per game at
6.6.
The Wildcats gave up just 11 sacks on the season and offensive lineman
Zach Strief was a first-team All-American by the Football Writers
Association of America.
Following his first season at Northwestern, Wildcat tight end Jay Tant
was picked by the Arizona Cardinals in the 2000 NFL draft. Two members
of his 2001 offensive line, Leon Brockmeier and Mike Souza, were invited
to play in one of the five postseason all-star games.
In 2002-03, Austin King and Jeff Roehl, participated in postseason
all-star games. King and Roehl are now playing for the Tampa Bay
Buccaneers and New York Giants, respectively.
NU's three senior linemen from 2004 -- Trai Essex, Ikechuku Ndukwe and
Matt Ulrich - all were on NFL rosters in 2005 with Essex picking up a
Super Bowl ring with Pittsburgh.
In 1998, Patton coached the tight ends and H-backs at his alma mater,
Miami University, another stop at which he coached with Wilson.
Patton, 34, earned four letters at Miami as a tight end. He tallied 45
catches for 504 yards and one touchdown during his four-year career,
including 16 catches for 166 yards his senior season. He was named a
captain his senior year, and earned first-team All-Mid-American
Conference honors.
After working as a graduate assistant for two seasons at Miami, Patton
joined the Rhode Island staff in 1995.
He was the Rams' tight end and tackles coach and served as the squad's
assistant strength and conditioning coach during the 1995 and 1996
seasons. He then served as the team's offensive line coach for the 1997
campaign. Patton earned a bachelor's degree in health and sports studies
in 1993 and a master's in sports psychology from Miami.
Patton, a native of Lafayette, Ohio, and his wife, Nichole, have a son,
Brayden, and two daughters, Katelynne and Maddie.
OU Sports Information