Cory Patterson - Running Backs - Cowboy Football Coaches - Oklahoma State University Athletics

Cory Patterson

Title:
Running Backs

Cory Patterson arrives in Stillwater with 16 years of coaching experience, after most recently spending two seasons as the associate head coach and wide receivers coach at Purdue from 2023-24.

In 2024, Patterson helped Purdue wide receiver Max Klare rank among the top 15 in the Big Ten in both receptions and receiving yards. Receiver Jahmal Edrine also ranked No. 8 in the conference with an average of 15.9 yards per catch.

Under Patterson’s guidance, Deion Burks emerged as Purdue’s best receiver in 2023 on his way to second team All-Big Ten honors. Burks led the Boilermakers in receptions (47), receiving yards (629) and touchdowns (7). His seven receiving touchdowns ranked fourth in the conference.

Before arriving at Purdue, Patterson spent five seasons as an assistant coach at Illinois from 2018-22, which included his last two years in Champaign coaching the running backs. Patterson spent his first three seasons with the Illini as tight ends coach after three seasons as the highly successful head coach at Trinity Catholic High School in St. Louis.

During 2022, Patterson guided Chase Brown to an All-America season as he became a finalist for the Doak Walker Award. Brown rushed for 1,643 yards to average 136.9 yards per game and rank third nationally. Under Patterson’s tutelage, the Illinois running back led the country in 100-yard games with 10 throughout the season.

In Patterson's first season as Illinois running backs coach in 2021, he coached Brown to become the program's 14th 1,000-yard rusher and earn third team All-Big Ten honors. Brown ran for 223 yards on 33 carries and one touchdown at No. 7 Penn State to help Illinois win the longest game in college football history (20-18, 9 OT) and had a career-best 257 rushing yards against Charlotte to join Illini legends Howard Griffith (1990) and Rashard Mendenhall (2007) as the only players in program history with multiple 200-yard rushing games in a single season. Brown's 223 rushing yards at Penn State were the most ever by an opponent at Beaver Stadium, and he added another 147 yards on the ground in a road win at No. 20 Minnesota. Patterson also coached true freshman Josh McCray to two 100-yard games in a breakout season. McCray ran for 142 yards at Penn State to mark the most rushing yards ever by an Illini true freshman against a ranked opponent, and he had a career-high 167 yards on a career-high 24 attempts at Purdue.

In 2019 Patterson helped Illinois to the Redbox Bowl to mark the program's first bowl in five years. He also helped coach the Fighting Illini to one of the biggest upsets in Big Ten history with a 24-23 victory over No. 6 Wisconsin on Oct. 19, 2019.

Patterson was also key to Illinois' recruiting efforts during his time there, specifically in the St. Louis area. He signed two of the highest rated Illini recruits in the modern era, including four star prospects Isaiah Williams and Shammond Cooper, who played under Patterson in high school.

Patterson began his coaching career in the high school ranks, first as an assistant at Christian Brothers College High School in St. Louis from 2009-12, then at Trinity Catholic as an offensive coordinator from 2013-14 before taking over as head coach from 2015-17.

Under Patterson, Trinity Catholic established itself as one of the top high school programs in St. Louis and the state of Missouri. He was named the Archdiocesan Athletic Association (AAA) Conference Coach of the Year all three seasons.

Patterson compiled a record of 27-6 in his three seasons at the helm and led the Titans to the 2016 Missouri Class 2 state title game. The 2017 squad went 9-1, ending their season in the state semifinals.

As an assistant coach at Christian Brothers College High School, he helped lead the team to a state championship and two district championships.

Prior to entering coaching, Patterson worked in corporate accounting in St. Louis. While an accountant, Patterson volunteered to coach a youth football team at a local Boys & Girls Club in the evenings. His passion to mentor young athletes drew him out of the corporate world and into coaching and teaching as a full-time profession.

Patterson is a 2002 finance graduate of Lindenwood University in St. Charles, Missouri. His collegiate playing career was cut short by a leg injury.

Patterson and his wife Tiffany have two daughters, Nyla and Nori.

Year-By-Year
2009-12	Christian Brothers HS	Assistant Coach
2013-14	Trinity Catholic HS	Offensive Coordinator
2015-17	Trinity Catholic HS	Head Coach
2018-20	Illinois	Tight Ends
2021-22	Illinois	Running Backs
2023-24	Purdue	Wide Receivers
2025	Oklahoma State	Running Backs