THE FLATS – Dave Patenaude and Andrew Thacker, who have served as Temple’s offensive and defensive coordinators under new Georgia Tech head coach Geoff Collins for the past two seasons, will join Collins on The Flats in the same roles, Tech announced on Monday. Patenaude, who will also coach Georgia Tech’s quarterbacks, is a 28-year collegiate coaching veteran. Under his direction, Temple put together two of the three highest single-season passing totals in school history (3,273 yards in 2017, 3,297 yards in 2018) and ranks 24th nationally in scoring offense this season. Individually, TU running back Ryquell Armstrong ranks second in the American Athletic Conference and 14th nationally in rushing (109.8 ypg) and wide receiver Randle Jones ranks third in the AAC and 13th nationally in yards per reception (19.35 avg.) this season. “Dave has produced record-setting offenses his entire career,” Collins said of Patenaude. “He did a great job for us the last two years at Temple. I’m excited about the fast-paced, spread, pro-style offense that we’re going to run here at Georgia Tech. With his experience, the transition is going to be awesome.” A metro-Atlanta native (Cartersville, Ga.), Thacker was promoted to Temple’s defensive coordinator in 2018 after joining Collins’ TU staff in 2017 as linebackers coach. With Thacker as coordinator, Temple’s defense scored eight defensive touchdowns (No. 1 nationally), forced 31 turnovers (No. 3 nationally), recovered 13 fumbles (No. 3 nationally) and intercepted 18 passes (No. 4 nationally). He’ll coach Georgia Tech’s linebackers in addition to his duties as defensive coordinator. “Andrew did a really good job for us the last two years as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach,” Collins said about Thacker. “He helped put together one of the best defenses in the AAC thanks due to his connection with the players, his motivation and his knowledge of the game. His stepdad [former Gainesville H.S. head coach Bruce Miller] was a legendary high-school coach in the state of Georgia. I’m excited to have him back home.”

Prior to his successful two-year tenure at Temple, Patenaude spent five seasons as the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Coastal Carolina. CCU set nearly every school record for offense during his five years with the Chanticleers, including single-season scoring, total offense, rushing yards and passing yards, while registering three 10-win seasons. Coastal Carolina also produced four finalists for the Walter Payton Award (NCAA Division I FCS Player of the Year) and three NFL draft picks (WR Matt Hazel, RB De’Angelo Henderson and RB Lorenzo Taliaferro) during Patenaude’s five years with the Chants. Twelve of Patenaude’s 28 years as a collegiate coach have been spent as an offensive coordinator, including each of the last 11 at Temple (2017-18), Coastal Carolina (2012-16), Georgetown (2010-11), and Hofstra (2008-09). He also served as offensive coordinator for one season at Columbia (2001). Patenaude’s career also includes two seasons as the head coach at the University of New Haven (2002-03), where he produced the program’s first NFL product in eight years (Phil Bogle) before the program was disbanded following the 2003 season. He has also served as an assistant coach at Hofstra (2007 – passing game coordinator/quarterbacks), Holy Cross (2004-05 – running backs; 2006 – wide receivers/special teams coordinator), Columbia (1998-1999 – wide receivers; 2000 – quarterbacks/wide receivers) Fordham (1994 – tight ends; 1995 – wide receivers; 1996-97 – quarterbacks/wide receivers), Springfield (Mass.) (1992-93 – running backs/wide receivers) and the U.S. Coast Guard Academy (1991 – running backs). He and Collins first coached together at Fordham in 1996, when Collins served as linebackers coach for the Rams. Patenaude was a three-year starter at quarterback and free safety at Central Connecticut State. He graduated from CCSU in 1990 and earned a master’s from Springfield in 1993. He and his wife, Christine, have two daughters: Eva and Estelle. “My family and I are excited and honored to join the long-storied football program at Georgia Tech,” Patenaude said. “I have seen firsthand the passion and vision that Coach Collins brings to a new program and I look forward to getting to work on The Flats.”