VIDEO: Mike Patrick Interview

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman head football coach Ashley Ingram has hired former Lenoir-Rhyne All-American slot back Mike Patrick to coach the position he played withing the South Atlantic Conference.

"Mike Patrick is special," Ingram said. "I recruited him to the Naval Academy before he transferred to Lenoir-Rhyne. He is a bright young coaching mind who understands what it takes to win at this level."

Patrick comes to Carson-Newman after two years as the tight ends coach at The Westminster School in Atlanta. He had spent the previous three years at the US Naval Academy Preparatory School as the program's offensive coordinator. 

Patrick has one season of college coaching experience. He spent the 2016 college football season at Harding working with quarterbacks and B-backs.  He helped the Bisons to a 13-1 record and the quarterfinals of the NCAA Division II playoffs. 

With the help of his guidance, Hardin put up 38.7 points per game, while rushing for 362.8 yards per game and 61 touchdowns.  Six Bisons rushed for more than 400 yards that season, while Park Parish had 1,157 yards rushing and 21 touchdowns. 

Patrick played his college ball at Lenoir-Rhyne after transferring to Hickory from the Naval Academy. 

"Carson-Newman was always a great opponent when I was at Lenoir-Rhyne," Patrick said. "When I played, I always felt like we had to go through Carson-Newman to win either the conference title or make the playoffs. Now we in the orange and blue have to do the winning. I can't say enough about Coach Ingram. He recruited me out of high school to go to Navy. When I left Navy, he helped me to get to Lenoir-Rhyne. I just want to make his job as head coach easier.  As soon as he called me, I knew I was coming here." 

Patrick garnered All-American honors from Don Hansen's Football Gazette in the same season Carson-Newman running back Damian Baker was a Harlon Hill Finalist and consensus All-American in 2015. 

Patrick rushed for 788 yards and nine touchdowns as a senior.  He accounted for 2,028 yards rushing and 20 touchdowns in his collegiate football career.

He joins former college teammates and three-time Jacobs Blocking Trophy winner Joe Ray on Carson-Newman's coaching staff.