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Sources: TCU’s Gary Patterson “Leading Candidate” to Coach Hogs

Gary Patterson, head football coach at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, could be the next coach at the University of Arkansas, according to 5NEWS conte...
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Gary Patterson, head football coach at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, could be the next coach at the University of Arkansas, according to 5NEWS content partner Bo Mattingly.

Mattingly, who hosts the radio program Sports Talk with Bo, said Friday he has heard from multiple sources that Patterson is the “leading candidate” to take command of the Razorbacks for the 2013 season. Mattingly was in South Carolina, where the Razorbacks were set to play the Gamecocks on Saturday.

“It is not a done deal, but I’ve heard from multiple sources that make me believe Gary Patterson is likely to be the next coach,” Mattingly said.

Patterson has been the coach at TCU since 2000 and was National Coach of the Year in 2009. In 2010, he took the Horned Frogs to the Rose Bowl with an undefeated 13-0 season. Texas Christian defeated Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl, 21-19.

The defensive-minded Patterson has had success throughout his career at TCU, winning 10 or more games eight times, including five conference championships.

TCU moved to the Big 12 from the Mountain West conference this season and is 6-3.

Patterson’s name has surfaced recently as one of a few top contenders for the job to replace interim coach John L. Smith. Athletic Director Jeff Long hired Smith in the spring on a 10-month contract after firing then-coach Bobby Petrino. Long fired Petrino when it came to light that the coach had hired his mistress to work on the football staff.

Other names recently mentioned for the top spot include Texas Tech coach Tommy Tuberville and Oklahoma State’s Mike Gundy, according to Mattingly.

Contacted by 5NEWS, Arkansas Sports Information Director Kevin Trainor said, “I’m sure this is the first of many rumors during this process. We won’t be addressing rumors or sourced reports until we make an announcement regarding a coach.”

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