Gary Blair on K-State coach Deb Patterson: “One of the most underrated coaches in the country”

Patterson talks to Brittany Chambers during the 2nd round game vs. Iowa State.

Kansas State’s victory over Iowa State Wednesday in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 championship marked head coach Deb Patterson’s 300th win at the school. Patterson talked about the milestone after her team’s win.

“The 300 to me is just a reflection of all the people that have been a part of Kansas State’s women’s basketball staff and teams during the course of those 300 wins,” said Patterson. “So to me, I don’t take notice of it aside from when someone is says it. To me it’s all about today and this victory, and that’s what feels great.”

Texas A&M coach Gary Blair heaped copious praise on Patterson.

“Deb Patterson, she’s one of the most underrated coaches in the country, and nobody gives her a enough credit,” said Blair. “Everybody talks about a lot of others, including myself, but they need to talk about Patterson and what she’s done over the years. You know she’s had eight WNBA players? Eight. And most of them have been shooters. So they do something in Kansas. They know how to shoot the ball and I’d like to have a couple of those.”

Patterson is now 300-173 at Kansas State and is the all-time winningest coach in school history. Her other accolades include:

• 2008 and 2002 Big 12 Coach of the Year
• 2008 and 2004 Big 12 Conference Champions
• 2008, 2003 and 2002 WBCA District V Coach of the Year
• 2008, 2003 and 2002 WBCA National Coach of the Year Finalist
• 2008 Associated Press National Coach of the Year Finalist

Patterson, a native of Rockford, Ill., graduated from Rockford College, where she was a two-time student-athlete of the year and a President’s Scholar in 1979. She is a member of the Rockford College Hall of Fame after starring in basketball and field hockey from 1975-79. Prior to arriving at K-State, she spent four seasons as the top assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Vanderbilt.