FAYETTEVILLE – David Patrick, a finalist for two National Coach of the Year Awards last season as head coach at UC Riverside, has been named associate head coach for men’s basketball at the University of Arkansas, the Razorback head coach announced, Eric Musselman.
“I have known Coach Patrick both professionally and personally for many years,” said Musselman. “We have a great bond and he will fit perfectly into our basketball family. He brings a lot to our program. He has experience as a Division I head coach, NBA talent assessment experience from his time with the Houston Rockets, and an incredible reputation as a recruiter. His knowledge of basketball is excellent, and he is someone I feel very comfortable discussing all the complexities of building a winning program. “
Musselman and Patrick previously worked together at LSU, helping the Tigers reach the 2015 NCAA Tournament. Patrick was also responsible for recruiting Ben Simmons, number one in the 2016 NBA draft, while at LSU.
“I am honored to meet Coach Musselman at the University of Arkansas,” said Patrick. “I am incredibly grateful for my time as head coach at UC Riverside and I want to sincerely thank every person I have had the pleasure to work with during my time there. I want to especially thank (the Director of Intercollegiate Athletics) Tamica Smith Jones and the UC Riverside administration for giving me the opportunity to serve as their head coach, as well as our student athletes, because without you, I would not be in this position. The opportunity to help lead the historic Arkansas program, be close to home, and return to SEC basketball was something my family and I couldn’t turn down. We can’t wait to get to Fayetteville and I can’t wait to get to work to continue pushing the Razorback program. ”
Patrick arrives in Arkansas after two seasons as head coach at UC Riverside. For his effort in 2019-20, Patrick was a finalist in two national awards: Hugh Durham Coach of the Year, awarded annually to Division I’s Most Outstanding Division I Men’s College Basketball Head Coach, and Coach of the Year Ben Jobe, introduced annually to the best minority coach in Division I. Additionally, before the season was shortened due to COVID-19, the Highlanders received invitations to play in the College Insider Tournament (CIT) and College Basketball Invitational postseason tournaments. (CBI).
Patrick, a native of Melbourne, Australia, and current assistant coach of the Australian men’s national basketball team, helped Australia Boomers reach fourth place at the 2019 FIBA World Championship. On August 24, 2019, Patrick also helped guide the Boomers to a historic 98-94 victory over Team USA for the first time in history. Patrick coached NBA champions and Australian national team guards Patty Mills and Matthew Dellavedova during their college careers at Saint Mary’s College (California). Patrick’s reputation as a smart and experienced recruiter is attributed to his ability to attract top talent. At LSU, he was an integral part of landing the country’s fifth and third recruitment classes in 2013 and 2015, respectively.
Patrick posted a 27-38 record at UC Riverside, the best two-year start in school history. He inherited a show that won just nine games the season before his arrival and quickly changed the show. The Highlanders won 17 games last season, tying the most wins in the history of the Division I program. The Highlanders led the Big West Conference and ranked eighth nationally in scoring defense (60.6 ppg). The team also led Big West in 3-point field goal attempts (722), while ranking second in the league in defensive rebounds (27.03 average), field goal percentage defense (.404), margin rebound (+5.5), 3- field points made (7.9 per game / 254 total) and total rebounds (35.78 per game / 1,145 total).
In their first season at UC Riverside, the Highlanders broke multiple program records, including 279 three-point shots, culminating in Big West’s best shooting percentage of .379 (ranked 28th nationally).
Prior to his time at UC Riverside, Patrick had an immediate impact on his two seasons as assistant head coach at TCU, playing a major role in the second-biggest change in the show’s history. The 2016-17 horned frogs were 24-15, good for a 12-game improvement over the previous year. The final victory of the season came in the NIT (National Invitation Tournament) championship game, an 88-56 victory over Georgia Tech that gave TCU its first postseason championship. The 24 wins were also the second in the history of the school. The following season (2017-18), TCU was 21-12 and qualified for the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 20 years, earning a seed number six.
Patrick spent four years at LSU, the last two as an assistant head coach, helping the Tigers reach the 2014 NIT and 2015 NCAA Tournament. He served as a scout for the Houston Rockets for two seasons (2010-12) and as a coach. assistant for four years at Saint Mary’s (2006-10). During his tenure in Moraga, the Gaels had record school seasons in 2008 and 2010. Both teams finished with 28 winning seasons and the 2010 team reached Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. He began his career as a coach in the Nicholls state (2005-06).
Patrick was born in Bermuda and grew up in Australia. He played a season in Syracuse, with his team reaching the 1996 NCAA Championship game, and then was a base at UL Lafayette from 1997-2000. He also played four years professionally in Australia, England and Spain.
After spending time playing with the Australian youth national team, Patrick came to the United States in 1994. As a high school student, he was selected as Louisiana’s Player of the Year after leading Trafton Academy to the state quarterfinals. . That same year, he was named district MVP, obtained a first-team pick from all parishes, and was chosen to participate in the Louisiana State High School All-Star Game.
Patrick is married to former Cassie Frank of Oberlin, Louisiana, and they have two daughters.
THE PATRICK FILE
Personal
- Hometown: Melbourne, Australia
- High School: Chapel Trafton (Baton Rouge, La.)
- Alma Mater: UL Lafayette (2000)
Gaming experience
- 1995-96: Syracuse – reached the 1996 NCAA Final Four (national runner-up)
- 1996-2000: UL Lafayette (then known as Southwestern Louisiana) – was out of the 1996-97 season under NCAA transfer rules; reached the NCAA 2000 tournament
- 2000-01: Canberra Cannons (Australian National Basketball League)
- 2001-03: Chester Jets (British Basketball League)
- 2003-05: Amics del Bàsquet Castelló (Spanish Basketball Federation)
Coaching experience
- 2005-06: Nicholls State (assistant coach)
- 2006-10: Saint Mary’s (California) (Assistant Coach) – NCAA Tournaments 2008 and 2010 (2010 Sweet 16); 2009 NIT
- 2010-12: Houston Rockets (Staff Explorer)
- 2012-14: LSU (Assistant Coach) – 2014 NIT
- 2014-16: LSU (Assistant Coach) – 2015 NCAA Tournament
- 2016-18: TCU (Assistant Coach) – 2018 NCAA Tournament; NIT Champion 2017
- 2018-20: UC Riverside (Head Coach) – 2020 Finalist for two National Coach of the Year Awards
- 2019-present: Australian national team (assistant coach)
- 2020-present: Arkansas (associate head coach)
For more information on Arkansas men’s basketball, follow @RazorbackMBB on Twitter.
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