Former TCU head coach headed to College Football Hall of Fame
Gary Patterson, the winningest head coach in the history of TCU football, will be enshrined in the College Football Hall of Fame as a member of the class of 2026.
Patterson, who spent 24 years in Fort Worth with the Horned Frogs, was elected in his first year of eligibility. In his time with TCU, he had a record of 181-79, including an undefeated 2010 season that was punctuated with a Rose Bowl victory over Wisconsin.
Patterson’s last year with the Horned Frogs came in 2021. He later held assistant jobs with Texas and Baylor, ending his work with the Bears in 2024.
Patterson was one of college football’s most well-regarded coaches during his tenure, winning four Coach of the Year awards across three conferences and winning six championships.
This will be the second straight year Patterson has been elected to a Hall of Fame, with the coach having been selected for the TCU Athletics Hall of Fame in September.
Patterson is the 10th Horned Frog elected, joining LaDainian Tomlinson, Darrell Lester, Bob Lilly, Jim Swink, Rags Matthews, Ki Aldrich, Dutch Meyer, Davey O’Brien and Sammy Baugh.
This story was originally published January 14, 2026 at 2:48 PM with the headline "Former TCU head coach headed to College Football Hall of Fame."
