BOISE, Idaho – Following 22 years as one of the most decorated and most beloved head coaches in the history of Boise State Athletics, men’s tennis head coach Greg Patton is stepping down, he announced Thursday.
Patton will remain on staff, joining the Bronco Athletic Association.
“First of all, this is not even near a sunset for me, it's a radiant blue and orange sunrise with new exciting opportunities and possibilities,” Patton said. "I have such a heartfelt love affair with Boise State, the athletic department, the people who make up this community and for the tennis program - this place is every ounce of who I am. I look at this as a graduation, and now I get to play with kids my own age. I am excited to pass on the can of balls to a new coach so that this program can knock on the door of winning a national championship.
“I am jumping up and down about the new challenges in helping the athletic department flourish and thrive, which is awesome because I have no clue what I would wear if I did anything anywhere else that didn't have blue and orange. I don’t need a new wardrobe, just need to replace the tennis shorts with slacks.”
“I can’t begin to thank Coach Patton enough for his contributions to Boise State, our community and the sport of tennis in general,” Director Athletics Curt Apsey said. “He has been a true ambassador for nearly 23 years and his passion for the Broncos is unmatched. Greg will be joining our fundraising team, and I am confident his passion will find new ways to contribute to the overall student-athlete experience at Boise State.”
Beck Roghaar, the 2018 Mountain West Women’s Tennis Coach of the Year, has been promoted to Director of Tennis and will remain head coach for the women’s program at Boise State, while also overseeing the men’s program. Roghaar was a team captain for the Broncos under Patton from 2003-05, and was also an assistant coach under Patton in 2010 before taking over the women’s program.
“Greg Patton is a legend, plain and simple,” Roghaar said. “The things he has done throughout the course of his career are absolutely jaw dropping, and he's one of the greatest college tennis coaches in the history of the sport.
“He radiates positivity, passion and love to all that he meets and truly has a gift to inspire action. Through his time at Boise State and his many other endeavors - as a coach and in life - he has impacted more people than he could ever know. I know I speak for everyone who has played for Greg through the years when I say thank you for all you did for us and it's truly an honor to have played for such a giant in the game.”
During his time as head coach with the Broncos, Patton, who was inducted into the Boise State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2001, was named NCAA National Coach of the Year (1997) while also earning five ITA Region Coach of the Year Awards (1994, 1997, 2004, 2012 and 2014). Spanning four different conferences, Patton led the Broncos to 14 league championships and picked up 10 league coach of the year awards – at least one of each in each of the four conferences. He also led Boise State to 16 appearances in the NCAA Tournament.
Patton concluded the 2017-18 season with 808 victories, more than any active collegiate coach in the country.
In addition to the Boise State Athletics Hall of Fame induction, Patton has also been enshrined in Halls of Fame for the Idaho Tennis Association (2013), the USTA Intermountain Region (2015) and UC Irvine (2000). Credited with turning Boise State into a national tennis power, he was honored with the USTA Intermountain Tennis Association Lifetime Achievement Award and given the Keys to the City of Boise, both in 2013.
Patton is also a two-time recipient of the USTA/NCAA National Community Service Award, earning the prestigious accolade in both 1997 and 2003.
“Boise State has blessed my life, and I’m so thankful for the friends and support in the community,” Patton said. “My players and teams have made me the happiest coach in the world. It’s not easy to put that tennis racket in the bag, but I am thrilled about diving head first into this new journey at Boise State.”
Five Bronco student-athletes picked up All-America accolades under Patton’s tutelage, while five players earned six conference athlete of the year awards and 44 combined for 116 all-league accolades.
Patton originally joined Boise State in 1993, and then following the 1998 season accepted a position with the US Junior National Team through 2003. He helped lead the National Boys’ 14s to the World Cup Championship in his final season.
Patton would return to Boise State to continue what he began in his first stint, serving as head coach from 2003-04 through 2017-18. Prior to initially joining Boise State in 1993, Patton spent 1979-92 as the head coach at UC Irvine. He led the Anteaters to nine conference championships, was a five-time conference coach of the year and was named the NCAA Coach of the Year (1987).
Patton coached the US Junior National Team from 1984-87, grooming some of the finest players in the country, including Pete Sampras, Jim Courier, Michael Chang, David Wheaton and Malavai Washington.
His first head coaching position came at UC Santa Barbara, his alma mater, from 1976-78. He moved on to CSU Bakersfield from 1978-79, where he captured a conference title, before joining the Anteaters.
Additional details regarding the staff for the Broncos’ men’s and women’s tennis programs will be forthcoming.
--broncosports.com--
Patton will remain on staff, joining the Bronco Athletic Association.
“First of all, this is not even near a sunset for me, it's a radiant blue and orange sunrise with new exciting opportunities and possibilities,” Patton said. "I have such a heartfelt love affair with Boise State, the athletic department, the people who make up this community and for the tennis program - this place is every ounce of who I am. I look at this as a graduation, and now I get to play with kids my own age. I am excited to pass on the can of balls to a new coach so that this program can knock on the door of winning a national championship.
“I am jumping up and down about the new challenges in helping the athletic department flourish and thrive, which is awesome because I have no clue what I would wear if I did anything anywhere else that didn't have blue and orange. I don’t need a new wardrobe, just need to replace the tennis shorts with slacks.”
“I can’t begin to thank Coach Patton enough for his contributions to Boise State, our community and the sport of tennis in general,” Director Athletics Curt Apsey said. “He has been a true ambassador for nearly 23 years and his passion for the Broncos is unmatched. Greg will be joining our fundraising team, and I am confident his passion will find new ways to contribute to the overall student-athlete experience at Boise State.”
Beck Roghaar, the 2018 Mountain West Women’s Tennis Coach of the Year, has been promoted to Director of Tennis and will remain head coach for the women’s program at Boise State, while also overseeing the men’s program. Roghaar was a team captain for the Broncos under Patton from 2003-05, and was also an assistant coach under Patton in 2010 before taking over the women’s program.
“Greg Patton is a legend, plain and simple,” Roghaar said. “The things he has done throughout the course of his career are absolutely jaw dropping, and he's one of the greatest college tennis coaches in the history of the sport.
“He radiates positivity, passion and love to all that he meets and truly has a gift to inspire action. Through his time at Boise State and his many other endeavors - as a coach and in life - he has impacted more people than he could ever know. I know I speak for everyone who has played for Greg through the years when I say thank you for all you did for us and it's truly an honor to have played for such a giant in the game.”
During his time as head coach with the Broncos, Patton, who was inducted into the Boise State Athletics Hall of Fame in 2001, was named NCAA National Coach of the Year (1997) while also earning five ITA Region Coach of the Year Awards (1994, 1997, 2004, 2012 and 2014). Spanning four different conferences, Patton led the Broncos to 14 league championships and picked up 10 league coach of the year awards – at least one of each in each of the four conferences. He also led Boise State to 16 appearances in the NCAA Tournament.
Patton concluded the 2017-18 season with 808 victories, more than any active collegiate coach in the country.
In addition to the Boise State Athletics Hall of Fame induction, Patton has also been enshrined in Halls of Fame for the Idaho Tennis Association (2013), the USTA Intermountain Region (2015) and UC Irvine (2000). Credited with turning Boise State into a national tennis power, he was honored with the USTA Intermountain Tennis Association Lifetime Achievement Award and given the Keys to the City of Boise, both in 2013.
Patton is also a two-time recipient of the USTA/NCAA National Community Service Award, earning the prestigious accolade in both 1997 and 2003.
“Boise State has blessed my life, and I’m so thankful for the friends and support in the community,” Patton said. “My players and teams have made me the happiest coach in the world. It’s not easy to put that tennis racket in the bag, but I am thrilled about diving head first into this new journey at Boise State.”
Five Bronco student-athletes picked up All-America accolades under Patton’s tutelage, while five players earned six conference athlete of the year awards and 44 combined for 116 all-league accolades.
Patton originally joined Boise State in 1993, and then following the 1998 season accepted a position with the US Junior National Team through 2003. He helped lead the National Boys’ 14s to the World Cup Championship in his final season.
Patton would return to Boise State to continue what he began in his first stint, serving as head coach from 2003-04 through 2017-18. Prior to initially joining Boise State in 1993, Patton spent 1979-92 as the head coach at UC Irvine. He led the Anteaters to nine conference championships, was a five-time conference coach of the year and was named the NCAA Coach of the Year (1987).
Patton coached the US Junior National Team from 1984-87, grooming some of the finest players in the country, including Pete Sampras, Jim Courier, Michael Chang, David Wheaton and Malavai Washington.
His first head coaching position came at UC Santa Barbara, his alma mater, from 1976-78. He moved on to CSU Bakersfield from 1978-79, where he captured a conference title, before joining the Anteaters.
Additional details regarding the staff for the Broncos’ men’s and women’s tennis programs will be forthcoming.
--broncosports.com--
