TCU's head coach Gary Patterson ended speculation about him becoming the next Notre Dame head coach with an official announcement expected on Wednesday about a new multi-year contract extension. Now the search for the next Notre Dame head coach comes down to Cincinatti's head coach Brian Kelly or if you are a an over the top Notre Dame fan who thinks they can get any coach next in line is Oklahoma's Bob Stoops.
The Gary Patterson rumors were really quite weak, and the reason his name was tossed around because he is in the recuriting Messiah known as Texas and is the current top non-BCS program on their way to a big money bowl game. Plus, he was able to have the success by getting the left over recruits in Texas while bein the fourth program in the state by popularity behind Texas, Texas A&M, and Texas Tech; however TCU is as good or better then all of them.
Notre Dame could have used Patterson's defensive prowess, because that is what the Domers need since they were being scored upon at will and nearly all of their games this year were a shoot out. This extension by Gary Patterson should increase his base above the $1.5 million from his current $1.3 million base he currently earns.
A reason Notre Dame should not go after Patterson because he is too succesful for Notre Dame. In his nine year head coaching career at TCU he has a record of 85-27 with six ten win seasons, and only one losing record. All kidding aside the right choice was for the University to keep Patterson happy at TCU and the only way to lure Patterson away at this time would be to back up the brinks truck to a four million plus salary.
Also, the 2010 TCU team has the potential to be better then this years team, because most of the offense comes back starting with QB Andy Dalton, most of the running backs, two all-conference offensive lineman, and with WR Jimmy Young along side receiver and return man Jeremy Kerley. Extending Gary Patterson was the best choice TCU could have done to ensure that they stay at the top of the Mountain West and continue to grow as a national power.