Patton named as sole finalist for Rusk AD/head football coaching position

Dr. Largent says Patton is 'the right fit for right now'

BY LELAND ACKER

Ted Patton has been selected as the next athletic director/head football coach at Rusk High School, Rusk ISD Superintendent Dr. James Largent said Wednesday.

“Of the four finalists we brought in, we could have hired any one of them,” Dr. Largent said. “We had four quality, quality guys who will be good head coaches in the near future. It came down to who was a right fit for us right now.”

Dr. Largent said Mr. Patton offered the approach for which the search committee was looking.

“He had everything we were looking for in terms of the program approach and football approach,” he said.

Mr. Patton will be recommended to the Rusk ISD Board of Trustees Monday. He was a first team All-American defensive end at Cisco Junior College, a captain on the Baylor football team and played indoor professional football.

Mr. Patton’s coaching resume includes stints at Fort Worth Dunbar and Arp before going to Elysian Fields, where he led the Yellowjackets to the 2007 state finals with a 14-2 record.

Dr. Largent said Mr. Patton plans to begin working in Rusk around April 1.