February 17, 2012
Patterson Honored by Indiana House of Representatives
WATCH THE VIDEO | VIEW PHOTOS | READ RESOLUTION NO. 35
Most of this release printed verbatim from Indiana House Republicans
STATEHOUSE- Taylor University's men's basketball coach Paul Patterson was recognized Thursday by the Indiana House of Representatives in honor of becoming the only coach in history to record 700 wins while coaching at a four-year Indiana college. Coach Patterson along with the Taylor University men's basketball team were present Thursday when Rep. P. Eric Turner (R-Cicero) and Rep. Kevin Mahan (R-Hartford City) spoke on the House floor to present a resolution recognizing Coach Patterson's accomplishment.
Coach Paul Patterson is also recognized as recently becoming the all-time winningest coach in Indiana college basketball history at a 2-year or 4-year school.
During Thursday's legislative session, Coach Patterson was recognized with a standing ovation from all legislators, staff and members of the public that were present when Turner announced that every player to play four years under Patterson had gone on to earn a college degree.
"I feel honored to present this resolution recognizing Coach Paul Patterson," said Rep. Turner. "As a Taylor alumnus, I am extremely proud of Coach Patterson for his extraordinary career accomplishments and how he has built strong basketball teams both on and off the court. Coach Patterson instills qualities like discipline, commitment and dedication in his team. He has not only focused on his team's success on the court, he emphasized building character in his players and developing Christian men."
In his 33rd season at Taylor University, Patterson made Indiana college basketball history Saturday, Dec. 3, 2011 when he recorded his 700th win as Taylor defeated Bethel College 85-67.
A win over Indiana Wesleyan University on Jan. 10, 2012 put Patterson at his 707th career win to make him the all-time Indiana collegiate wins leader at any level. Bob Knight is second on the list of four-year college coaches behind Patterson with 662 victories while at Indiana University.
"I am so pleased we are recognizing a member of our community today, Coach Paul Patterson," said Rep. Mahan. "He has accomplished so much and been so successful in his time at Taylor - truly becoming one of the elite coaches in college basketball. In addition to that, he has mentored his players throughout the years ensuring they became honorable and successful men. I applaud all that Coach Patterson has done."
A member of the NAIA, Hanover College, and Grant County Sports halls of fame, Patterson has guided Taylor to 15 conference championships and 14 NAIA National Championship appearances. The Trojans advanced to the Final Four in the 1991 national tournament.
The NAIA named Patterson its coach of the year for 1991, and he has received 11 other coach of the year honors and led the Trojans to 27 winning seasons.
"That was a really thoughtful thing for them to do, and it was well done," Patterson said of the ceremony. "It was a privilege to be part of it. It was quite an honor - not deserved. They are a brilliant and accomplished group of people who have done some significant things in their lives, and not just involving basketball."
More than 25 of Coach Patterson's former players are actively coaching at the college or high school levels. Six of those are head coaches in the college ranks, including John Groce at Ohio University, Chris Holtmann of Gardner-Webb University, Steve Brooks of Indiana Wesleyan University, Chad Tapp of Indiana University South Bend, Scott Polsgrove of Lees-McRae College, and Ty Platt of Huntington University.
Most of this release printed verbatim from Indiana House Republicans
STATEHOUSE- Taylor University's men's basketball coach Paul Patterson was recognized Thursday by the Indiana House of Representatives in honor of becoming the only coach in history to record 700 wins while coaching at a four-year Indiana college. Coach Patterson along with the Taylor University men's basketball team were present Thursday when Rep. P. Eric Turner (R-Cicero) and Rep. Kevin Mahan (R-Hartford City) spoke on the House floor to present a resolution recognizing Coach Patterson's accomplishment.
Coach Paul Patterson is also recognized as recently becoming the all-time winningest coach in Indiana college basketball history at a 2-year or 4-year school.
During Thursday's legislative session, Coach Patterson was recognized with a standing ovation from all legislators, staff and members of the public that were present when Turner announced that every player to play four years under Patterson had gone on to earn a college degree.
"I feel honored to present this resolution recognizing Coach Paul Patterson," said Rep. Turner. "As a Taylor alumnus, I am extremely proud of Coach Patterson for his extraordinary career accomplishments and how he has built strong basketball teams both on and off the court. Coach Patterson instills qualities like discipline, commitment and dedication in his team. He has not only focused on his team's success on the court, he emphasized building character in his players and developing Christian men."
In his 33rd season at Taylor University, Patterson made Indiana college basketball history Saturday, Dec. 3, 2011 when he recorded his 700th win as Taylor defeated Bethel College 85-67.
A win over Indiana Wesleyan University on Jan. 10, 2012 put Patterson at his 707th career win to make him the all-time Indiana collegiate wins leader at any level. Bob Knight is second on the list of four-year college coaches behind Patterson with 662 victories while at Indiana University.
"I am so pleased we are recognizing a member of our community today, Coach Paul Patterson," said Rep. Mahan. "He has accomplished so much and been so successful in his time at Taylor - truly becoming one of the elite coaches in college basketball. In addition to that, he has mentored his players throughout the years ensuring they became honorable and successful men. I applaud all that Coach Patterson has done."
A member of the NAIA, Hanover College, and Grant County Sports halls of fame, Patterson has guided Taylor to 15 conference championships and 14 NAIA National Championship appearances. The Trojans advanced to the Final Four in the 1991 national tournament.
The NAIA named Patterson its coach of the year for 1991, and he has received 11 other coach of the year honors and led the Trojans to 27 winning seasons.
"That was a really thoughtful thing for them to do, and it was well done," Patterson said of the ceremony. "It was a privilege to be part of it. It was quite an honor - not deserved. They are a brilliant and accomplished group of people who have done some significant things in their lives, and not just involving basketball."
More than 25 of Coach Patterson's former players are actively coaching at the college or high school levels. Six of those are head coaches in the college ranks, including John Groce at Ohio University, Chris Holtmann of Gardner-Webb University, Steve Brooks of Indiana Wesleyan University, Chad Tapp of Indiana University South Bend, Scott Polsgrove of Lees-McRae College, and Ty Platt of Huntington University.