Ave Maria

Joe Patterson is entering his 10^th season as the Head Coach of the Ave Maria football team and his first as the Offensive Coordinator. Prior to coming to AMU, he had served the previous 12 years as the head varsity coach at St. John’s College High School in Washington, D.C.

Since coming to AMU, the football team’s grade point average and retention of student-athletes have improved dramatically. Success on the field followed as the Gyrenes went from a winless season in 2016 to Sun Division Champions in 2018, a turnaround that earned Patterson Sun Division Coach of the Year honors. The Gyrenes have been competitive ever since, securing winning records in the highly competitive Sun Conference and playing in the de facto conference championship game in both the 2021 and 2022 season.

In 2017, Coach Patterson was the leading force to install the new artificial turf at Gyrene Field, which serves as the playing field for soccer, lacrosse, and football. In 2018, this investment was followed with permanent lighting for the field, transforming the student-athlete experience and heightening the fan-friendly atmosphere. The team has played in front of capacity crowds from that point forward.

Coach Patterson also served as the University’s Director of Athletics from May 2020 to April 2025, and was named a vice president of the University from May 2022 to April 2025. During his five years as Director of Athletics, Ave Maria added 13 varsity intercollegiate sports, going from 14 teams in spring 2020 to 27 teams in fall 2024. Athletics also took on the creation and oversight of the Marching Band beginning in 2021. From spring 2020 to fall 2024, the number of students under the umbrella of AMU athletics increased from 390 to nearly 700. Also during that time, the competitiveness of the athletics program improved as AMU had top-five finishes the Sun Conference Commissioner’s Cup standings each year, including one third-place finish.

Coach Patterson’s five years as Director of Athletics also saw great improvements in the athletic facilities. In spring 2022, AMU opened the Suppa Malec Beach Volleyball Complex (five beach volleyball courts). In January 2023, AMU opened Judi’s Gym (three outdoor covered basketball courts). Also in January 2023, the University opened the Judy Fyke Practice Golf Complex (an on-campus chipping and putting facility). Later that year, a rugby field was installed on the north end of campus to serve the newly elevated varsity rugby program. In August 2023, AMU opened a new locker room facility for the outdoor sports, and then in December 2023, the fully renovated and expanded Golisano Field House opened.

Patterson earned his master's degree in Catholic Leadership from the Catholic University of America, and his undergraduate degree from Villanova University. An educator by trade, he taught literature at St. John's College High School in Washington, D.C., for 19 years. During that time, he earned three different teacher-of-the-year awards, including the Archdiocese of Washington Veteran Teacher of the Year.

Patterson and his wife, Jana, live in Ave Maria, Florida, with their six children.

In The Media:

Sin and Virtue in Athletics
The Catholic Theology Show, 51-minute show hosted by Dr. Michael Dauphinais
Sin and Virtue in Athletics w/ Joe Patterson - Catholic Theology Show | Podcast on Spotify
 
Catholic Sports Radio – Episode 291
32-minute show hosted by Bruce Wawrzyniak
CSR 291 Joe Patterson - Catholic Sports Radio

Athletics and the Virtues
The Pursuit of Wisdom, Ave Maria University on-line course – August 2024
https://thepursuitofwisdom.org/course/athletics-and-the-virtues
 
Virtue & Athletics
At the 39-minute mark of the Catholic Connection – EWTN Radio – August 13, 2024
https://ondemand.ewtn.com/free/Home/Play/en/~CB20240813
 
Athletics and Virtues
The Catholic Morning Show – Iowa Catholic Radio – August 12, 2024
https://iowacatholicradio.com/the-catholic-morning-show/
 
On Generosity and Chastity
At the 8-minute mark of the Son Rise Morning Show – Sacred Heart Radio – August 7, 2024
https://www.sacredheartradio.com/onair/son-rise-morning-show
 
Athletics as Virtue in Action
By Joe Patterson & Soren Schwab, Anchored Podcast, March 2024
https://open.spotify.com/episode/6AMvOje17o4SXANCyIWsai?si=IVtY5Wm1Ttm07MW4Ru4Stw

Coaching as a Calling
By Joe Patterson, Seton Magazine, May 2022
https://www.setonmagazine.com/mom/coaching-as-a-calling

Authentically Catholic Athletic Programs:  Competing Without Compromise
By Joe Patterson, Ascension Press, March 2021
https://media.ascensionpress.com/2021/03/03/authentically-catholic-athletic-programs-competing-without-compromise/
 
Coach Patterson’s interview with Ron Meyer, Blessed 2 Play
EWTN Catholic Radio, broadcast February 2021
https://soundcloud.com/ewtn-radio/blessed-2-play-021421-joe-patterson#
 
What I Learned from Ave Maria University Football
By John Clark, National Catholic Register, October 2020
https://www.ncregister.com/blog/what-i-learned-from-ave-maria-university-football
 
Ave Maria sports teams return as only Southwest Florida program playing amid COVID-19
By Andrew Sodergren, Naples Daily News, September 2020
https://www.naplesnews.com/story/sports/college/ave-maria/2020/09/09/ave-maria-athletics-tout-safety-protocols-return-njcaa-competition-amid-coronavirus/5688322002/