Education
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 University of Alabama by then Athletics Director Paul "Bear" Bryant later that year.
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 University of Alabama by then Athletics Director Paul "Bear" Bryant later that year.
During her tenure, she built the program at the University of Alabama into one of the most successful in the history of college gymnastics. Patterson is married to her former assistant coach, David Patterson. 6 National Collegiate Athletic Association Women"s Gymnastics championships - 1988, 1991, 1996, 2002, 2011, 2012.
6 National Collegiate Athletic Association Women"s Gymnastics championships - 1988, 1991, 1996, 2002, 2011, 2012 8 Southeastern Conference Championships - 1988, 1990, 1995, 2000, 2003, 2009, 2011, 2014 29 National Collegiate Athletic Association 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, 2014 Southeastern Conference Women"s Gymnastics Coach of the Year - 1985, 1995, 2000, 2010 National Collegiate Athletic Association 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 National Collegiate Athletic Association 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).
The Pattersons have two children, Jessie, and Jordan, who was a member of the Alabama Crimson Tide softball 2012 National Collegiate Athletic Association championship team