March 19, 2007
Transcript of press conference at Mike Ditka's Restaurant in Chicago introducing Ricardo Patton as the 26th head coach of the Northern Illinois Huskies.
Opening Statement by NIU Associate Vice President/Director of Athletics Jim Phillips:
"There were five key components that were critical for a successful search [for a new men's head basketball coach]. First, the search needed to be thorough. We looked at over 500 résumés and bios after the head coach position was vacated. Second, we wanted to be strategic to make sure we covered every aspect of the task at hand. Third, we wanted to resolve the search process as quickly as possible; it is a seller's market considering the large number of coaching jobs open in college basketball at this time, but the landscape can shift suddenly. Fourth, we wanted to be very organized and systematic in our search. Fifth, we wanted to make sure that, through this process, we could clearly define the criteria to consider in choosing the next men's head basketball coach here at Northern Illinois University."
"To me there were five critical points of criteria [to consider during the search process]. One, we wanted a coach with outstanding personal characteristics--a role model with high integrity and strong values. In short, someone who could help us deliver academically, socially and athletically the world-class experience that we strive for in Huskie Athletics. Two, it was absolutely necessary to hire a Division I head coach with experience. Three, we truly needed a coach who has had proven success in getting to the NIT and NCAA postseason tournaments. Four, it was important to hire a very strong recruiter on both the regional and national level because recruiting is the lifeblood of every program. Five, it was essential to find a coach who fit Northern Illinois University that we could be proud to have in the Huskie family."
"Without question, Ricardo Patton immediately rose to the top of our search list. In regard to outstanding personal characteristics, one only needs to talk to the people who know Ricardo Patton. Testimony of his high integrity and values resonated in my conversations with references like Bobby Knight and former Ricardo recruit and Detroit Piston Chauncy Billups. All references were convinced that there was not a better person for the head coaching job at NIU. Two, Ricardo Patton has extensive Division I coaching experience. He has coached 11 seasons at the University of Colorado and ended his tenure with the second-most wins in school history as a head coach. Only 11 teams in 106 years have won 18 or more games and Ricardo coached six of those teams. In addition, Ricardo Patton has coached three of the four 20-win teams in University of Colorado history. He also holds the record for wins in a season at Colorado leading the 1996-1997 Buffaloes to 22 wins. Not to be overlooked, he won at least 15 games in eight of his 11 seasons as head coach. Third, Patton has had proven success in getting to the postseason tournaments in that he has been to the NIT or NCAA tournament six times. Fourth, he is a very strong and nationally renowned hardworking recruiter. The plethora of high-profile players he has coached and recruited is a true testament to his superior recruiting ability. Five, Patton is a great fit for NIU. His tremendous work ethic, determination and spirit mirror the qualities of this institution and I am confident in his ability to deliver a world-class experience for our student-athletes."
Opening Statement by Ricardo Patton:
"It is an honor, a privilege and a blessing to be named the head men's basketball coach at a fine institution like Northern Illinois University. I would like to thank Jim Phillips and Dr. Peters for the opportunity, and I pledge to work extremely hard to make the fans and the people of Illinois proud of Northern Illinois basketball. I look forward to meeting and learning from the coaches about the university and winning as a part of the NIU family. Also, I would like to thank the University of Colorado for affording me the experience of being their head basketball coach for 11 years, but this is a great time for my family and I to turn the page in our lives and establish a long-lasting relationship with the entire NIU community.
"When I was first learned of the possibility of my filling the vacancy as head coach at Northern Illinois, I started to do research. Everyone who I have spoken with emphasized the beauty of the [DeKalb] area and the potential of the basketball program. Upon learning this, I became very excited, but I had to ask God to lead me where He wanted me to be. God has blessed and guided me my entire coaching career and I think He led me here to NIU to guide the program in the right direction. We should be playing for conference championships; there is no doubt about that.
"With the support of people like Jim Phillips and Dr. Peters, there is no reason why a team can't be successful, and we will have no excuses not to be successful. The state of Illinois is a fertile ground for recruiting and Chicago is an area with which I have strong ties and it will be our home base for recruiting. I assure you that we will not only be battling mid-major schools for quality recruits, but we will also be competing with schools like the University of Illinois and DePaul for talent. My philosophy of recruiting is when we start beating larger schools in recruiting, we can start beating them on the court. There is no reason why we can't get local recruits to realize the beauty of the area and NIU's world-class experience.
"I am a stickler for recruiting solid people and believe the most important things in life is one's relationship with his family, friends and their god. We will continue to attract quality young men [to NIU] who want to represent themselves, their family, their hometown, their state and their university in a first-class manner. We welcome the opportunity to be role models within the program that will reflect the first-class nature of Northern Illinois University. We will put together a staff that can recruit both on the national and regional levels, and we will embark on the recruiting trail as soon as possible. My pledge is to work extremely hard to foster pride in the NIU program as the other coaches in the NIU program have already done."
QUESTION AND ANSWER SESSION WITH RICARDO PATTON:
On assembling a coaching staff:
"I do have a staff in mind and of course I am very loyal to the coaches in the program at the University of Colorado, but a couple of those guys are currently considering other positions. In any case, I will put the best staff available to achieve the goals we have set."
On his team's style of play:
"I like to pressure defense teams all over the floor. I want athletes who can play solid man-to-man defense and cause match up problems on the defensive end. Offensively, I want to be non-restrictive and give guys the freedom to utilize their full ability on the floor. We are also going to be an unselfish basketball team that shares the basketball. My philosophy is that the right guy to have the ball is the open guy. I want to play an exciting brand of basketball that the fans will embrace."
On his strategy for recruiting Chicago:
"The city of Chicago definitely has enough quality players to satisfy all Illinois colleges, and we will get our share here at NIU. Recruiting is all about relationships and my former staff and I have been successful in establishing many relationships. I believe that if I can get an audience, I can sell Northern Illinois University."
"I want to check the Chicago recruiting climate and see who the recruits will embrace. As a head coach, I know that people tend to embrace head coaches regardless of the school one coaches for. They want to see the head coach at the forefront of the recruiting process rather than just the assistants or staff. The one thing I tell all parents and recruits is regardless of how close a player becomes to an assistant coach, two things are never going to happen. One, the assistant coach will never call a timeout, and two, he will never make a substitution. So it is very important that that recruit has a close relationship with his head coach, because the head coach holds all the minutes in his pocket. Players want to talk to the guy who directly controls their playing time because all players want to play major minutes."
On how quickly the Huskies will contend for championships:
"We will hit the floor running. But I had no idea that we would finish second in the Big 12 behind Kansas in my first full season at Colorado. I don't know how long it will take, but we will try to do it sooner rather than later."
On his familiarity with the Mid-American Conference:
"I am familiar with other teams and coaches [in the MAC] and have formed competitive relationships with them, but I am more concerned with our situation at Northern Illinois at this point in time."
--NIU--
