Sarah Patterson is a former collegiate gymnastics coach. She served as the head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide women's gymnastics team from 1979 to 2014. During her tenure, she built the program at the

University of Alabama The University of Alabama (informally known as Alabama, UA, the Capstone, or Bama) is a Public university, public research university in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States. Established in 1820 and opened to students in 1831, the University of ...

into one of the most successful in the history of college gymnastics. Patterson graduated from Union Endicott High School in 1974, Slippery Rock State College in 1978, and was named the head women's gymnastics coach at the

by then Athletics Director

Paul "Bear" Bryant Paul William "Bear" Bryant (September 11, 1913 – January 26, 1983) was an American college football player and coach. He is considered by many to be one of the greatest college football coaches of all time, and best known as the head coach of ...

later that year. Patterson is married to her former assistant coach, David Patterson. The Pattersons have two children, Jessie and Jordan, who was a member of the

Alabama Crimson Tide softball The Alabama Crimson Tide softball team represents the University of Alabama in NCAA Division I college softball. The team participates in the of the Southeastern Conference (SEC). It is currently led by head coach Patrick Murphy (softball), Patri ...

2012 NCAA championship team. Along with Georgia gymnastics coach Suzanne Yoculan, Patterson was featured in a 2014 ESPN documentary “Sarah & Suzanne" that looked at the rivalry of the two coaches and their gymnastic teams.

Career Review and Honors

* 6

NCAA The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) is a nonprofit organization that regulates College athletics in the United States, student athletics among about 1,100 schools in the United States, and Simon Fraser University, 1 in Canada. ...

Women's Gymnastics championships - 1988, 1991, 1996, 2002, 2011, 2012 * 8

Southeastern Conference The Southeastern Conference (SEC) is a collegiate List of NCAA conferences, athletic conference whose member institutions are located primarily in the South Central United States, South Central and Southeastern United States. Its 16 members in ...

Championships - 1988, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2003, 2009, 2011, 2014 * 29 NCAA Regional Titles - 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014Tide wins 23rd regional championship , TideSports.com
/ref> *

Women's Gymnastics Coach of the Year - 1985, 1995, 2000, 2010 * NCAA Women's Gymnastics Coach of the Year - 1986, 1988, 1991, 2002 * Alabama Sports Hall of Fame (Inducted March 2003) * In celebration of her career and 6 championships with Alabama, Champions Plaza was built between Coleman Coliseum and Sewell-Thomas Stadium, it is named after Sarah Patterson, head coach of Alabama's six-time NCAA Champion gymnastics team. “We named this plaza after Coach Sarah Patterson as a way to honor the great success she has enjoyed over the years in the gymnastics program, and the contributions that she has made to the University and the athletics department in general,” UA Director of Athletics Mal Moore said. (Coach Patterson tied Bear Bryant's National Championships at BAMA with her 6th in 2012)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Patterson, Sarah Year of birth missing (living people) Living people Alabama Crimson Tide women's gymnastics coaches