Ralph Patterson Named Interim Director of Athletics

Newberry College President Dr. Maurice Scherrens has announced Ralph Patterson has accepted the position of Interim Director of Athletics. Patterson replaces Matthew Finley, who resigned to accept a position in athletic administration at Anderson University.

Scherrens will conduct a national search for a director of athletics in a permanent capacity, and expects Patterson to serve in the interim capacity for 60 to 90 days.

"We feel very fortunate Ralph was available to serve as our Interim AD," Scherrens said. "Our coaching staff has expressed their support of his appointment and I am confident he will provide us strong leadership. He has already shown a high level of interest and energy and I believe from a team chemistry perspective he is a good fit."

“It is a real privilege to be at Newberry College to serve in this role for Dr. Scherrens,” Patterson said. “I will follow his lead as we unite the Newberry Wolves department of athletics with our student body, faculty, alumni and friends. We have terrific coaches and a dedicated support staff. I look forward to seeing our talented student-athletes succeed in the classroom and excel in competition.”

Patterson comes to Newberry after serving nearly seven years as Vice President for University Advancement and Executive Director of the Lander Foundation at Lander University in Greenwood. He was also Vice President for Advancement at Erskine College from 2007-09.

Prior to his work as a higher education fundraiser, Patterson was a college basketball coach for 18 years. He was an assistant coach at Colorado for five years and at Appalachian State for six years. He was the head basketball coach at Erskine College for seven years. The Boulder, Colo., native coached at Fairview HS in Boulder prior to joining the college ranks. He graduated from Ashford University with a degree in Organizational Management.

Patterson also has sports radio and television broadcasting experience. He hosted a sports radio show in Clemson from 1999-2003, and from 2003-2009 served as a co-host for the Clemson football radio network on the Tiger Tailgate Show and the 5th Quarter Show. He has continued to be a college basketball color analyst, and has done telecasts on Fox Sports South, Comcast Sports Southeast, ESPN Regional, ESPN3 and MASN.

Patterson currently serves as a board member of the Lakelands Fellowship of Christian Athletes (Greenwood, Abbeville, Laurens, and Anderson Counties), and is also on the Greenwood Rotary Club Board of Directors.