Click on https://texas-lsn.squarespace.com/1971-1981-coach-patterson-wood for the early history of Longhorn women’s swimming under Coach Melvin (Pat) Patterson.
  

 Coach Pat Patterson 1973-1977

Rooster Andrews and Wally Pryor were also on the cc: list of the letter written by Tex Robertson below. This letter represents a historic moment for the Longhorn swimming program so I retyped it in a readable larger font.

THE PAT PATTERSON True STORY

Almost a secret until this letter to the Longhorn Hall of Honor selections committee.

Honorable Johnny Crawford

Longhorn T Men President

1701 Turtle Creek Blvd.

Dallas Tx. 75210                                 March 10, 2000

Dear Crawf,

Greetings and love to Jerry, you, and Charley (2nd place ain’t bad.)

We’ve delayed the recognition of Pat Patterson for the Hall of Honor too long. In my 65 years of U.T. ism and wet-mindedness, I think Pat is the most deserving of all the past Honoree. Certainly me, even Skippy and fabulous Coach Eddie who wouldn’t be with us except for Coach Pat.

Melvin R. “Pat” Patterson had a great swim record. He was a U.T. swimming letterman three years 1954-1956. He was one of the top point-getters in 1955 in beating SMU’s early string of S.W.C. championship. He was elected Captain of the 1956 Longhorn team that placed 2nd in the S.W.C. Besides that, Pat deserves a place in the Hall for his pick of a bride, Jane Knelp nationally ranked swimmer and by far the best female swimmer to attend U.T. during the first ¾ of the 20th century. They were married in 1955 while both were seniors at U.T.

After graduation, Pat continued in swimming by starting and coaching the Dads Club Swimming Team of Houston that became one of the nation’s best age group teams. Dads Club was the best in the TAGS, an organization that claimed Coach Pat Patterson as its first President.

Pat moved up from the Dad’s Club to the College level as lead swim coach at Rice in 1961. Then to Arkansas with their fancy new pool as their Head Coach ii 1965. For those quick college successes, A & M got him back to Texas as the Head swim and water polo coach in 1968.

In the spring of 1960, after SMU won the S.W.C., Regent’s Chairman Frank Erwin refused to go ahead with plans for the new swimming center unless Texas won an S.W.C. swimming title or got a new coach.  In September 1970 U.T. President Mickey Lem??? and Athletic Coordinator, Stan Burnham traveled to College Station and negotiated a release from A & M for Coach Melvin “Pat” Patterson.

Coach Pat was welcomed back to U.T. with great enthusiasm from the swim team, ex’s, and his old coach, Hank Chapman who had been promoted to Director of P.E. Aquatic. Pat knew the expectations and gigantic task of returning Texas to the top of the S.W.C.  He was not only daunted by SMU’s monopoly of the state’s best swimmers and their 15 straight S.W.C. championships but his inherited team was short in number and talent. Scholarships were half that of S.M.U and A&M. And half his pay and responsibility was teaching P.E. swim classes, a real detriment to the great need of recruiting.  Pat spent seven of his eight years of Texas Coaching in the Gregory Gym pool while the swimming center was under construction according to his designs. Frank Irwin often said the new pool is everything Coach Patterson could wish for and more.

Pat Was U.T.’s first women’s official Sports Coach when several coed swimmers asked U.T. President Lorene Rogers if they could have a team under title Nine. Women’s P.E. Director Betty Thompson asked Pat if he would coach them at Gregory for a start during the 1973 fall semester. 

Pat’s persuasion paid off in adding an essential and famous diving Coach to his staff with little or no pay. First, it was former Olympic Champion, Bob Clotworthy who didn’t get along with campus officials. Then it was Mike Brown, a former N.C.A.A. I meter springboard champion who was a huge success and became both men’s and women’s diving coach.

Pad had some great teams that beat the Aggies every year and were 2nd in the SWC each year. His spirited Longhorns improved but so did SMU with their extra scholarship recruits.  Pat produced 21 SWC champions and 12 all Americans

Now here is the part of Pat Patterson Longhorn's contributions that set him above and apart from all of us old Hall of Honor recipients.

After eight years of suggesting, asking, and pleading for adequate program support for Coach and diving coach pay and scholarships equal to that of SMU, A&M, or any of the top NCAA programs,  Pat advised U.T. officials that he was resigning.  He told them with proper financial support and a new coach, U.T. would regain the SWC title and win the N.C.A.A.

The whole Longhorn team was disappointed and the exes were shocked that their pride and joy, hardworking successful Coach would resign without notice and leave his world’s best pool and a lifetime job.  WETS president Wally Pryor immediately called for an unofficial Coaches search committee along with WETS other Director Dr. Hyl Karbacgm, Tex Robertson, Jose Gilbert, and Coach Pat Patterson. U.T. officials on had to consider the recommendation were U.T.s Dr. Ron Brown V.P. for Student Affairs and women’s Athletic Director Donna Lopiano who was looking for a new swim coach, Men’s Athletic Director Darrell Royal was invited but was unable to attend.

Each of the committees had a shortlist; all including the SMU Coach had been contacted. All but Pat, who was familiar with the National scend listed his five recommendations. The committee voted to ask Dr. Brown to go for Pat’s top two, Eddie Reese of Auburn for the men and Paul Bergen, Cincinnati Age Group Coach for the women.

Donna contacted and hired Paul Bergen with the week and after a few weeks of negotiation, Darrell Royal hired Eddie Reese. Both coaches with great U.T. support recruited with the great swim center and in the third year, 1981 both teams won their National Championships. We all know the rest of the continued story. 

Pat was good for swimming, Texas, and his swimmers and divers.  I’ve always been impressed by how our three Longhorns; Rob, Nan, and Bill matured under Pat’s coaching. Their swimming improved bus so did their attitude, confidence, and willingness to work.

After leaving U.T. in 1979 Pat got a job immediately with ??? School District as a Jr. High Principal earning much more than his U.T. income. He moved up from High School Principal to Assistant Superintendent till 1986. Moved to Sweeny as Superintendent and retired in 1990.

The Patterson s have four grown children, David, Wendy, Christi, and Patrick. All involved in coaching and teaching. Pat and Jane are retired living in Sweeny, Texas. Jane is involved almost full time with Church work while  Pat is playing golf two or three days a week and gets paid as a fishing guide in the Gulf or private lakes.

Path and Jane are both winners of the Frank Erwin Award. Texas Swimming’s top honor. 

Best Wishes

Tex Robertson

c.c. to Coach David McWilliams

Pat Patterson 

• Inducted into HOH in 2010;

• A three-year letterman at Texas and team captain in 1956;

• One of the leading scorers at the 1955 SWC championship meet ;

• Begins his head coaching career in 1961 at Rice University;

• Coaches at Arkansas, Texas A&M, and then back to Texas in 1971;

• During his seven seasons as a head coach at Texas, he produces 21 SWC Champions and 12 All-Americans;

• Was instrumental in the formation and development of the first University of Texas Women's Swimming team;

• Pat Patterson is the right leader at the right time as Coach Patterson struggles to convince the UT administration to increase coaching salaries, travel expenses, and scholarships, and his strict dress and hair code standards cause friction between the coaches and swimmers.

• The dream of a new state-of-the-art swimming facility is close to reality;

• Women's and men's swimming is on the rise. 

 https://texas-lsn.squarespace.com/naming-bevo-folklore-and-fables

1971- 1972 Coach Coach Patterson Pending more information

First row- Pharo, Holloway, Mcfarland, Vick, John Campbell, Miller

Second row- Coach Patterson, Busch, Goodall MacNaughton, Roessner, Nibouar, Willis, Scott Brown

Third row- Gottesman, Robinson, Blodgett, Roberts, Beasley, McCutcheon, Elder, Jacobs, Salzhandler

1972-1973  Coach Patterson 

Coach Patterson’s says “Most scholarship ever while he was the swim coach was 7” I had to go over Darrell To Athletic Council Frank Irwin” for help on swim scholarships.

Patterson chooses not to rest his swimmers before dual meets so they swam tired.  Three Longhorns win  at the SWC meet.  Steve McFarland a diver did well at the SWC meet and   Bruce Robinson and Frank  Salzhandler maintained their winning momentum from the previous year.

Three divers qualified for the  NCAA meet- McFarland, Holloway, and Vick.   

Bob Clothworth is hired as diving coach and Ron Heubner is hired as stroke coach

The swim team finishes 2nd again to SMU. The Horns are the Avis of the SWC.  They try  harder but still finish 2nd.   Times are about to change .

The Horns set  11 school records  and 5 SWC records and manage to win 10 of 18 events at the SWC championship meet.

In 1972 the Horns lose to SMU by 376 points in 1973 they lost by 119 points. 

1973-1974- Coach Pat Patterson 2nd in the SWC

A U.T. administrative indifference to the swim team in 1974 upset Coach Patterson. Patterson fights the administration for swimming scholarships and salary for his assistance and chooses to miss the only road trip for the year.

1974-1975- Coach Pat Patterson “Mo” begins to work for the horns.

Horns break SMU’s dual meet 19 year record beating the Horns . The score is Texas 63 and SMU 50. 12 of 13 Longhorn school records fall this year. Dick Worrel, Jamie Baird, Ron Tyre, Bob Rachner, Tim Carter, and Ralph Watson lead the team . Patterson says that great swimmers are starting to put Texas in the same league with USC and Alabama but the Athletic Council continues to reject Patterson request for 19 instead of 14 scholarships.

15th at Nationals

Horns broke 12 of 13 school records this year.

Guy Hagstette, Jamie Baird, Bob Rachner, Dick Worrel are All Americans

1975-1976- Coach Pat Patterson Pending More information

Patterson wonders why the Athletic  Council built a $6,000,000 swimming facility and then says that due to budget restraints will not allow the swim team the maximum number of swimming scholarships .  The NCAA allows 19 swimming scholarships and the Horns only offer 14.

Texas finishes 2nd to SMU. It is the 20th consecutive time that SMU is SWC champion.  Even though this team was considered the best ever at this point in Longhorn history only 3 swimmers scored at nationals.  The Horns finished 20th at nationals.

Guy Hagstette sets two SWC swimming records and the relay team took 9 seconds off the SWC record in the 440 I.M.  He is high point man at the SWC meets.

Brent Barker, Darrell Fick, Jeff Krumweide are All Americans. Darrell Fick took 9 seconds of the old SWC record in the individual 440 individual medley.

1976-1977- Coach Pat Patterson Pending More information

Topping the Charts

The new pool opens and is the high-tech wonder of the United States. 

Ken Armstrong enrolled at the University of Texas after competing for Canada in the 1976 Olympics. He began his coaching career after two successful seasons with the Longhorns and another Olympic team selection in 1980. Armstrong was selected as head coach for the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia, where Woodland’s diver and TSDHOF inductee Laura Wilkinson won the Olympic gold medal in the women’s 10-meter platform event. This was the first Olympic diving gold medal for a U.S. woman in that event since 1964. He has been a member of every U.S. Olympic coaching staff since 2000. 

Below is a letter written by Tex Robertson complimenting Bill Robertson. The letter captures the internal conflict and decision-making process required to hire Coach Reese for Men's swimming and Paul Bergen for Women's swimming. I separated the letter below into two parts so the font is more significant. If you don't want to read the letter, I have written the bullet points of the letter below:

• Frank Erwin, in 1969, said there would be no new swimming center unless Texas won the SWC or hired a new coach.

• SMU had won the SWC 15 times in a row, and Frank Erwin wanted to change those results.

• Pat Patterson is the answer for the coaching change.

• In 1973, Betty Thompson, the women's sports administrator, asked Pat Patterson if he would also coach the Women's swim team.

• While Coach Patterson beat SMU in a dual meet, he never beat SMU for the SWC championship. However, there is no question that Coach Patterson’s formula for success is a winner, and the team improved dramatically during his years as head swim coach. Coach Patterson laid the foundation to fulfill Frank Erwin's demand for a winner before a new swimming center was built.

• Coach Patterson resigned in 1978 on excellent terms with UT and was instrumental in hiring Coach Reese and Coach Paul Bergen.

• Coach Patterson's coaching choices resulted in the National Championships for the men's and women's swimming teams four years later, in 1981.

1977-1978  Coach Pat Patterson Pending More information

SMU crushes the Longhorn swim team 82-31. Injuries and sickness to Fick, Krumwiede, and Robertson hurt this team’s performance. Patterson resigns and joins the committee that chooses Eddie Reese as the swim coach.

 Coach Patterson's Reflection Point

Tex was the first very successful coach and tried to run the swimming portion, but Darrell would not let him. Pat Patterson came in 1970 as an Assistant Professor and taught three three-hour classes and five Physical Education Classes. He got 1,000 to the swim team during his years as the swim coach, with only three scholarships to offer; most other schools had as many as twenty. One year, we won 14 of the 18 events and still lost by 110 pts. Every time he went to Darrell, he refused.

After three years, he asked Royal, “Who’s above you?” He said, Frank Erwin. Frank turned the three scholarships into $15,000. That’s why the Swimming Award is called the Frank Erwin Award. After the budget hearing one year, there was $3 million left. Frank said we have had a new swimming pool on the books since 1954. Let’s do that.

Lex Ackers and designed The Joe Jamil pool. It opened in 1977 with much student protest as the added-on projects cost over $7 million. Patterson knew the pool was going to be a big draw in recruiting. So he asked for more scholarships, and when Darrell turned him down again, he knew it was never going to happen while he was the swim coach, so he resigned and was hired as the Principal of Westlake. By the time they hired Eddie, the number of football scholarships was reduced, and Eddie received an increase of 14 scholarships. Eddie was very successful in recruiting the best. My relationship with Eddie and his family was awesome. We hunted and fished. Racketball and church together. After Eanes school district, who took the job as Supt of Schools in SWEENY ISD.