Why Texas Fired Its AD & What’s Next

Austin used to be such a peaceful little town.

The athletic director at the University of Texas had been there forever. So had the football coach and the basketball coach. The university president as well.

With the “resignation” on Tuesday of Steve Patterson, one of the engines of turmoil is gone. Patterson agreed to a mutual parting with the university just 22 months after succeeding the fabled DeLoss Dodds as athletic director.
 
In that short time, Patterson got rid of Mack Brown as football coach, Rick Barnes as basketball coach, raised football ticket prices and seemed to irritate nearly everyone close to the program. When a plane flies over the stadium at the first home football game carrying a banner that says “Patterson Must Go,” he probably must.
 
Texas is not just any athletics program. It is one of the huge college sports businesses, with its own television channel and extraordinary expectations not only in football and men’s basketball, but in baseball, volleyball, softball and women’s basketball. It is an engine that runs on money, which is one reason the business-minded Patterson was hired. A sputtering engine is no good.
 
“It has been a decision that’s been building over recent weeks,” university President Gregory L. Fenves said after a negotiated departure settlement with Patterson. “I felt that the risks of not accepting his resignation at this time and try to have him stay outweighed the benefits.”

Patterson didn’t seem like he’d be a quick out. His return to his alma mater began in October 2013 when former President Bill Powers created a search committee to replace Dodds. The former AD retired after 32 years in which he turned Texas into a printing press for cash.

Patterson, staffers said, did not relate well to the department. His ticket price hike for football and a new charge for parking were not well-received. He seemed at odds with the community, or at least extremely out of touch with it.

Texas needs stability and time to establish it. The interim athletic director, Mike Perrin, will be introduced on Wednesday.
 
 
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman .