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G.U. Coach Brian Patton to join NCCAA Hall of Fame on May 30

Published: April 13, 2021

Greenville University head men's and women's cross country and track and field coach Brian Patton will be inducted into the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) Hall of Fame as a member of the Class of 2019.

He will be joined by Dr. Keith Connor (Southern Wesleyan University), Judy Fox (Ignite International), and Chet Kammerer (Grace College) with a formal induction at the NCCAA Hall of Fame Banquet on Thursday, May 30, at the NCCAA Annual Convention in Greenville, S.C.

Brian Patton has served as head men's and women's cross country and track and field coach at G.U. since 1994. His men's track and field teams have been crowned NCCAA national champions 10 times and national invitational champions twice, while the women's track and field team has placed as high as second at the NCCAA championships. Patton and his staff have received 10 NCCAA national coach of the year awards.

In track and field, he has mentored 151 NCAA Division III track and field national entries, 72 NCAA Division III track and field All-Americans (including four relays), 190 USTFCCCA academic All-Americans, and six individual NCAA Division III track and field national champions.

The men's track and field team won the first two SLIAC championships in 2017 and 2018 after being named invitational champions in 2016. The women's track and field team has a SLIAC championship in 2017 and an invitational championship in 2016. Patton and his staff are three-time SLIAC track and field coach of the year award winners.

The men's track and field team finished sixth in the 2015 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field championships, seventh in 2003, and eighth in 2014 with Patton at the helm. The program finished 24th at the 2018 championships, which included an individual national champion in the 800. Patton was chosen as NCAA Division III Midwest regional coach of the year in 2003.

On the cross country course, Patton has directed runners that received two NCAA Division III All-American honors, and five qualified for the NCAA Division III national championships.

Patton is a 25-time recipient of the SLIAC cross country coach of the year award. An additional four SLIAC cross country coach of the year honors went to an assistant coach on his staff.

The men's cross country team has won 15 of the last 22 SLIAC championships while the women's team has won 16 of 24 conference championships. Additionally, Patton has coached 203 all-conference athletes in cross country alone.

Patton, a certified public accountant, graduated from Greenville University in 1988 and has a 15th place finish at the Vineman Ironman triathlon to his credit. He and his wife Heather have two sons, Elijah and Caleb.

Connor, Fox, Kammerer, and Patton will be officially inducted at the Hall of Fame Banquet on May 30, 2019 during the NCCAA Annual Convention being held in Greenville, South Carolina. Patton is the first member of Athletic Department staff at Greenville University to be honored in the NCCAA Hall of Fame.

The purpose of the Hall of Fame Award is to recognize individuals who have given outstanding leadership and/or service to the NCCAA. Individuals should have high moral character and Christian integrity; presently be making a positive contribution by serving the Lord and society; and maintain a continued interest in Christian higher education and intercollegiate athletics.

Headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina, the NCCAA strives to promote the gospel of Jesus Christ through its 24 National Championships and 2 National Invitationals. For more information on the NCCAA, contact the NCCAA National Office at (864) 250-1199 or visit www.thenccaa.org.

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