Patterson saves best for last, announces new contract after beating Baylor

When he finished his remarks about TCU’s 45-22 victory against Baylor, Gary Patterson announced his own personal good news.

The veteran Horned Frogs coach said he signed a new six-year contract that will take him through the 2023 season.

“That way recruiting-wise and everything else, everybody understands where Gary Patterson is and what we stand for and what we’re trying to get done at TCU,” he said.

No financial terms were announced. TCU’s most recent tax filing shows Patterson’s compensation at more than $5 million per season.

Two years ago, Patterson signed a six-year contract that took him through the 2021 season.

Athletic director Chris Del Conte called it a proactive move.

“Always want to be proactive,” he said. “We know we have one of the very best coaches in the country. You want to make sure he’s taken care of and know that there’s no doubt in anyone’s mind that he’s going to be a Frog.”

This season, Patterson’s name has been brought up in speculation about potential openings at Texas A&M, Nebraska and Tennessee. He told reporters in Fort Worth last month that he has a policy of never saying never.

“You never take anything for granted,” Del Conte said. “We were just being proactive and making sure that he knew and we knew that we think he’s the very best in the country, and that was solely the opportunity and only option we wanted to convey to him.”

Patterson is the winningest football coach in TCU history, with Saturday’s victory against Baylor taking him to 159-56 in 17 years as head coach. He came to Fort Worth as defensive coordinator for Dennis Franchione in 1998, assuming head coaching duties for a bowl game in December 2000.

In past interviews, Patterson, 57, has said he has no interest in coaching much past retirement age.

But as TCU is wrapping up its sixth year in the Big 12, the Frogs continue to find success on the field — Friday’s victory against Baylor assured they will play for the Big 12 championship next week — and university leadership continues to invest in football.

Last week, TCU announced the beginning of fundraising for $100 million to add a club seating and suites on the east side of Amon G. Carter Stadium.

“We’re very grateful to Mr. Del Conte and our chancellor and our board of trustees, Kelsey and I are, for having confidence in us to be here a little while longer,” Patterson said.

He said he signed the new deal Wednesday.

“Not soon enough!” Del Conte yelled out in the postgame interview room, drawing laughs.

Patterson smiled.

“I dragged my feet a little bit,” he said. “It’s kind of like recruiting. Or when you’re dating. If in dating you act like you like her too much, then she doesn’t want anything to do with you, right? You’ve got to act like, ‘I don’t know...’ But they do take very good care of us. Let me just say that to you.”

This story was originally published November 24, 2017 at 6:26 PM with the headline "Patterson saves best for last, announces new contract after beating Baylor."