Eastern Michigan Athletics
James Patton Named EMU Football Assistant Coach
1/16/2019 5:31:00 PM | Football
The Lafayette, Ohio native will serve as the offensive line coach
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) — James Patton, the offensive quality control assistant at the University of Pittsburgh for the past two seasons, has been named an assistant football coach at Eastern Michigan University, Head Coach Chris Creighton announced today, Jan. 16. A veteran coach with more than 26 years of experience, Patton will serve as EMU's offensive line coach.
"I feel very fortunate to be able to say that Coach James Patton is our offensive line coach here at Eastern Michigan," Creighton said. "He lives what we look for in a coach – he cares deeply about his players, he knows how to make his players better, and he will attract our kind of guys to our program in recruiting. He knows the Mid-American Conference and the Midwest – we are ready to roll."
Patton owns 18 years of experience in the Midwest, spending seven as a player and coach at his alma mater Miami University, seven as an assistant at Northwestern University, and four as an assistant with Indiana University. He also coached the offensive line at the University of Oklahoma from 2006-12. Furthermore, he has coached in 13 bowl games and on six conference championship teams.
Patton spent the last two years with Pitt as an offensive quality control coach. In 2018, the offensive line helped the running backs turn in an average of 227.9 yards per game en route to an appearance in the 2018 Hyundai Sun Bowl.
Prior to his arrival in the Steel City, Patton served four seasons as an assistant coach with the Hoosiers. He was the tight ends and fullbacks coach his final three years in Bloomington after initially serving as special teams coordinator and assistant defensive line coach. Patton also had recruiting coordinator responsibilities at IU.
In 2015, Indiana became just the fourth team in FBS history to feature a 3,500-yard passer, two 1,000-yard rushers and one 1,000-yard receiver in a season. Oklahoma also accomplished this feat in 2008, when Patton was the Sooners' offensive line coach.
During his seven-season tenure at Oklahoma, Patton was part of five Big 12 championship teams. The Sooners compiled a 74-21 record (.779) from 2006-12, earning three Fiesta Bowl berths, a Cotton Bowl invitation and playing in the 2009 BCS title game.
Patton's 2011 offensive line gave up just nine sacks, while OU ranked fourth nationally in total offense and passing. In 2010, Oklahoma finished No. 4 in passing offense, No. 13 in total offense and No. 17 in scoring offense nationally.
Patton's additional coaching stops include Northwestern University (1999-2005), Miami (1998, 1993-94), and the University of Rhode Island (1995-97).
He mentored the offensive line at NU from 2001-05 after he oversaw tight ends and H-backs in 1999 and 2000 for then-Head Coach Randy Walker. The 2000 club won the Big Ten Championship and played in the Alamo Bowl. From 2002-05, NU had at least one 1,200-yard rusher and one of the nation's top 30 rushers each year. Every Wildcat senior offensive lineman Patton coached made it to the NFL.
Patton was the tight ends and H-backs coach at Miami in 1998, when the RedHawks posted a 10-1 record to finish in a tie for first place in the East Division of the Mid-American Conference.
Before returning to Miami, Patton spent three seasons at the University of Rhode Island under Floyd Keith. He worked with the offensive line in 1996 and 1997, and tight ends in 1995.
As an undergrad, Patton was a four-year letterman at tight end for the Miami RedHawks from 1989-92, earning First Team All-MAC honors as a senior. In his career, he had 45 receptions for 504 yards and one score.
A Lafayette, Ohio, native, Patton earned his bachelor's degree in 1993 and his master's in 1995 from Miami. He served as a graduate assistant for the program in 1993 and 1994.
Patton and his wife, Nichole, have four children: Brayden (21), Katie (17), Madie (14), and Abbie (10). Patton's son, Brayden, is a redshirt sophomore offensive lineman at Northern Illinois University.
"I feel very fortunate to be able to say that Coach James Patton is our offensive line coach here at Eastern Michigan," Creighton said. "He lives what we look for in a coach – he cares deeply about his players, he knows how to make his players better, and he will attract our kind of guys to our program in recruiting. He knows the Mid-American Conference and the Midwest – we are ready to roll."
Patton owns 18 years of experience in the Midwest, spending seven as a player and coach at his alma mater Miami University, seven as an assistant at Northwestern University, and four as an assistant with Indiana University. He also coached the offensive line at the University of Oklahoma from 2006-12. Furthermore, he has coached in 13 bowl games and on six conference championship teams.
Patton spent the last two years with Pitt as an offensive quality control coach. In 2018, the offensive line helped the running backs turn in an average of 227.9 yards per game en route to an appearance in the 2018 Hyundai Sun Bowl.
Prior to his arrival in the Steel City, Patton served four seasons as an assistant coach with the Hoosiers. He was the tight ends and fullbacks coach his final three years in Bloomington after initially serving as special teams coordinator and assistant defensive line coach. Patton also had recruiting coordinator responsibilities at IU.
In 2015, Indiana became just the fourth team in FBS history to feature a 3,500-yard passer, two 1,000-yard rushers and one 1,000-yard receiver in a season. Oklahoma also accomplished this feat in 2008, when Patton was the Sooners' offensive line coach.
During his seven-season tenure at Oklahoma, Patton was part of five Big 12 championship teams. The Sooners compiled a 74-21 record (.779) from 2006-12, earning three Fiesta Bowl berths, a Cotton Bowl invitation and playing in the 2009 BCS title game.
Patton's 2011 offensive line gave up just nine sacks, while OU ranked fourth nationally in total offense and passing. In 2010, Oklahoma finished No. 4 in passing offense, No. 13 in total offense and No. 17 in scoring offense nationally.
Patton's additional coaching stops include Northwestern University (1999-2005), Miami (1998, 1993-94), and the University of Rhode Island (1995-97).
He mentored the offensive line at NU from 2001-05 after he oversaw tight ends and H-backs in 1999 and 2000 for then-Head Coach Randy Walker. The 2000 club won the Big Ten Championship and played in the Alamo Bowl. From 2002-05, NU had at least one 1,200-yard rusher and one of the nation's top 30 rushers each year. Every Wildcat senior offensive lineman Patton coached made it to the NFL.
Patton was the tight ends and H-backs coach at Miami in 1998, when the RedHawks posted a 10-1 record to finish in a tie for first place in the East Division of the Mid-American Conference.
Before returning to Miami, Patton spent three seasons at the University of Rhode Island under Floyd Keith. He worked with the offensive line in 1996 and 1997, and tight ends in 1995.
As an undergrad, Patton was a four-year letterman at tight end for the Miami RedHawks from 1989-92, earning First Team All-MAC honors as a senior. In his career, he had 45 receptions for 504 yards and one score.
A Lafayette, Ohio, native, Patton earned his bachelor's degree in 1993 and his master's in 1995 from Miami. He served as a graduate assistant for the program in 1993 and 1994.
Patton and his wife, Nichole, have four children: Brayden (21), Katie (17), Madie (14), and Abbie (10). Patton's son, Brayden, is a redshirt sophomore offensive lineman at Northern Illinois University.
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