Cory Patterson arrives in Manhattan with a proven ability to develop players and strong recruiting connections in St. Louis.
Biography
With the basketball season now behind us, attention shifts back to football as spring practice kicks off on March 26. The team will feature many new faces both players and coaches. Among the new additions is running backs coach Cory Patterson, who will be guiding his unit through drills this season.
Interestingly, this isn’t the first time Patterson has been featured in a “Meet the Coach” piece. Back in 2023, he was introduced as associate head coach and wide receivers coach at Purdue under Ryan Walters. While that tenure didn’t pan out for the program, Patterson’s contributions particularly with the wide receivers—stood out as a rare positive during that period.
A native of St. Louis, Missouri, Patterson played college football at Lindenwood University before a leg injury cut his playing career short. He initially pursued a career in accounting after earning his degree, but his passion for football remained strong. Volunteering as a youth coach eventually reignited his commitment to the sport, prompting him to leave the corporate world and pursue coaching full-time.
Patterson began his coaching career at Christian Brothers College High School in St. Louis (2009–2012), where he worked as an assistant coach. Despite likely taking a pay cut and increasing his workload, his dedication to the game drove his decision. He later moved to Trinity Catholic High School, where he served two years as offensive coordinator before becoming head coach. During his three seasons in charge, he compiled a 27–6 record and led the team to deep playoff runs, including appearances in the Missouri state semifinals and finals.
His success at the high school level earned him an opportunity at the collegiate level when Illinois head coach Lovie Smith hired him as tight ends coach. Although Smith’s tenure at Illinois was ultimately unsuccessful, Patterson’s performance secured his retention under new head coach Bret Bielema, who reassigned him as running backs coach. Under his guidance, the Illini backfield excelled, highlighted by Chase Brown’s consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons and standout 2022 campaign, where he rushed for 1,643 yards and earned All-American honors along with recognition as a Doak Walker Award finalist.
Following the 2022 season, Patterson joined Purdue with Ryan Walters, transitioning to wide receivers coach. Despite the unconventional move, he quickly proved his versatility by helping develop Deion Burks into an All-Big Ten performer and Max Klare into a standout player who later transferred to Ohio State.
After Purdue, Patterson spent time at Oklahoma State in 2025 during a turbulent season. Even amid team struggles, he contributed to the development of running back Rodney Fields Jr., who averaged five yards per carry in a shortened season. Patterson’s belief in Fields’ potential was evident, as the player followed him to Kansas State.
Why Kansas State?
After several challenging coaching stops, Patterson now joins a more stable environment at Kansas State under Coach Klein. In addition to gaining a reliable program structure, the Wildcats benefit from Patterson’s strong recruiting ties in St. Louis a region rich in football talent.
His previous success recruiting and developing players from St. Louis and East St. Louis has already proven valuable. At Illinois, he brought in players he had coached at Trinity Catholic, including standout Isaiah Williams. He later leveraged those connections at Purdue, helping recruit several key players from successful high school programs in the region.
Kansas State has already shown interest in expanding its presence in that area, extending offers to multiple prospects. Patterson is expected to play a central role in strengthening those recruiting pipelines moving forward.
Summary
Coach Klein sought both a skilled player developer and someone capable of opening recruiting doors in St. Louis. Cory Patterson fits both needs well. With his experience and connections, combined with a more stable coaching environment, his addition appears to be a strong match for Kansas State.
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