David Patten joins WCU football coaching staff

David Patten, the 12-year veteran of the National Football League and former Catamount wide receiver, has joined the Catamount football coaching staff.

Patton's return to Western Carolina was announced by WCU Head Coach Mark Speir on Monday night at the Western Carolina National Signing Day reception held in the Ramsey Center Hospitality Room. Speir was on the Catamount staff of former head coach Steve Hodgin while Patten was a Catamount student-athlete.

"We're very excited that David Patten is joining our football coaching staff for the 2013 season," Speir said in a news release. "David will bring a lot of energy, knowledge and passion to our program. Having someone like David with 12 years of NFL experience and three Super Bowl rings around our players and coaches will be a tremendous asset and boost to our program. He knows what it takes to compete at a high level and it's awesome to be able to have a guy on staff that came through our program at Western Carolina and excelled on the highest stage."

At Western Carolina, Patten was one of the Catamount's heralded "three amigos" receiving corps which included Patton, Craig Aiken and Kerry Hayes.  Aiken and Hayes finished their WCU careers with over 2,600 yards receiving from 1991 through 1994. Patten finished with 96 career catches for 1,563 yards and 14 touchdowns for the Catamounts.

In the NFL, Patton was a part of three Super Bowl Championship teams - all with New England in Super Bowl XXXVI, XXXVIII and again in Super Bowl XXXIX.


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