AC Patterson was elevated to the role of offensive coordinator prior to the 2023 season. Aged 31 at the time, Patterson was undoubtedly one of the youngest coordinators at the Division I level. But his experience in the coaching ranks and recruiting field over the past decade is impressive. He also serves as Assistant Head Coach and as Running Backs Coach.
“AC is beyond his years in experience and knowledge in talent evaluation and x’s and o’s,” said Vikings Head Coach Bruce Barnum.
“It means a lot to me that Coach Barnum has the trust in me to give me this opportunity,” said Patterson at the time. “The chance, at my age, to become a coordinator is rare and I look forward to it.”
In 2023, Patterson’s offense produced. The Vikings averaged 33.8 points and ranked fifth in the nation in rushing at 224.0 yards per game - the most by a PSU team in seven seasons.
Known for his recruiting acumen, Patterson has played a vital role in the Vikings’ outstanding signing classes prior to the 2023 and 2024 seasons. PSU’s 2023 class was rated number one in the Big Sky Conference and third in the nation by 247Sports.com. This year, Patterson was named the top recruiter in the FCS and Big Sky Conference by 247Recruiting.
Patterson will lead his third-year starter at quarterback Dante Chachere and a stable of talented young running backs in 2024 as the Vikings take on the most challenging schedule in school history. Veterans Quincy Craig, Christian Grubb and Jalynnee McGee, as well as redshirt freshman Delon Thompson, the top high school rusher in southern California in 2022, should create a dynamic backfield.
Patterson returned to the Portland State coaching staff in 2022 after a three-year stint with the Minnesota Vikings of the NFL.
When Patterson was originally hired at Portland State in 2015, he was the youngest (22) Division I football coach in the country. During his first two years at PSU Patterson produced quality offensive line play that had been a standard at Portland State for many years. Those two seasons ranked among the top four rushing performances in PSU history.
Four Viking starters earned All-Big Sky Conference honors in 2015. Tackle Kyle Smith was named second team, tackle Mike Davis and guard/center Cam Keizur were named to the third team, and guard Randin Crecelius earned honorable mention. In 2016, Keizer was named first team, Crecelius earned third team and Tyshon Mosley was named honorable mention All-Big Sky.
In 2017, Patterson moved over to assist in coaching running backs. In 2018, Patterson took over as tight ends coach and the all-important responsibility of recruiting coordinator. Patterson guided Charlie Taumoepeau to All-Conference honors and All-American honors.
Patterson served as an offensive quality control and assistant running backs coach with Minnesota from 2019-21.
BACKGROUND
Patterson played offensive line at the University of Texas-El Paso from 2011-12. He was named to the Conference USA Honor Roll in 2012. Due to knee injuries and four surgeries he had to retire from collegiate football. However, Patterson became a student assistant under Mike Price at UTEP. He assisted with recruiting, doing film breakdown and player reports, and also did UTEP game film breakdown.
In 2014, Patterson served as a volunteer assistant coach at Jefferson High School in El Paso.
Patterson starred at Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas earning All-League and All-State honors. His team won back-to-back state titles.
He comes from a coaching family as his father, Andre, coached 14 years in the NFL, including with the Minnesota Vikings) and 14 years collegiately. Viking Coach Bruce Barnum was hired to his first stint at Cornell (1991-92) by Andre Patterson and has known AC his entire life.
THE AC PATTERSON FILE
7th year at Portland State (2nd stint)
Hometown: Las Vegas, NV
Alma Mater: UTEP, 2014, History
Playing Experience: UTEP, 2011-12, Center
Date of Birth: May 19, 1992
Family: Wife, Mary; son, Tre
COACHING EXPERIENCE
2022-24 Portland State, Running Backs/Recruiting Coordinator (2022)/Offensive Coordinator/Running Backs (2023-24)
2019-21 Minnesota Vikings, Offensive Quality Control/Assistant Running Backs
2015-18 Portland State, Tight Ends/Recruiting Coordinator (2018)/Running Backs (2017-18)/Offensive Line (2015-16)
2014 Jefferson (El Paso TX) HS, Assistant Coach
2013 UTEP, Student Assistant
ALL-BIG SKY CONFERENCE VIKINGS UNDER AC PATTERSON
2015
2nd team: Kyle Smith, OT
3rd team: Mike Davis, OT; Cam Keizur, OG
HM: Randin Crecelius, OG
2016
1st team: Cam Keizer, RG
3rd team: Randin Crecelius, LT
HM: Tyshon Mosley, LG
2018
1st team: Charlie Taumoepeau
2023
2nd team: Shiloh Ta’ase, OL; Andrew Van Buren, FB
HM: Jermaine Braddock, WR; Quincy Craig, AP
