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Fighting Ever Fighting with Cory Patterson

March 27, 2026·35 min·3 clips

Corey Patterson went from coaching youth football in St. Louis to a Big Ten job after a phone call from Lovie Smith.

The episode begins with host Tim Fitzgerald introducing Corey Patterson, Kansas State's new running backs coach, highlighting his unexpected career path from youth and high school coaching in St. Louis to the college level. Patterson explains his transition, starting with a phone call from Lovie Smith at Illinois that led to his first college job. He discusses his current role, expressing excitement about the running back group, which includes Joe Jackson, Rodney Fields, Jay Harris, Monterio, and Tanner West. Patterson analyzes Joe Jackson's development, noting the need for improvement in open-field play. He describes the hiring process for the Kansas State job, involving persistent calls to an agent and a Christmas Day offer from Colin Klein. Patterson reflects on his coaching philosophy, learned from his Little League days, emphasizing that players can achieve anything if not limited by adults. He shares his impressions of Colin Klein's detailed and multiple offense, comparing it to speaking a different language. Patterson recounts his time on Oklahoma State's interim staff, highlighting the lesson of enduring hardship and persistence. He discusses the importance of structure in college football and how it prepares players for life after sports. The conversation touches on recruiting St. Louis players, whom Patterson describes as tough and resilient. He explains his criteria for evaluating high school running backs, focusing on elite traits. Patterson concludes by sharing his favorite aspect of coaching: staying young by helping young men develop. Fitzgerald wraps up, noting Patterson's potential to build strong player connections.

As heard by us

A grounded coaching interview about the road that brought Corey Patterson to Kansas State.

Fighting Ever Fighting follows Kansas State's new running backs coach, Corey Patterson, through the winding path that brought him to Manhattan. Tim Fitzgerald lets Patterson's climb from youth and high school football in the St.

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If you want the road story behind K-State's new running backs coach, start here.

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