Ralph Patterson, who worked for 13 years in athletics and administration at Erskine College in Due West, has joined Lander University as Director of Development.
Patterson, a native of Boulder, Colo., has a degree in organizational management from Ashford University in Clinton, Iowa. Early in his career, he was an assistant basketball coach at the University of Colorado for five seasons, then assistant basketball coach at Appalachian State University in North Carolina.
In 1992, Erskine hired him as head coach of the men's basketball team, a position he held for seven years. He is also a part-time scout for the NBA Phoenix Suns, recruited by coach Alvin Gentry, who was an assistant with Patterson at Colorado.
His background includes three years' service as mayor of Due West and coordinator of activities for the town's Recreation Association.
When his coaching days were over, Patterson began hosting a daily radio sports show in Clemson and Greenville and got involved in televised sports broadcasting. He is the co-host of the Tiger Tailgate Show on the Clemson Football Radio Network and does occasional guest spots as a television color analyst.
He returned to Erskine as director of Alumni Affairs and Annual Giving and then became vice president for Advancement, the position he held before joining Lander in January.
Patterson credits his success in coaching, broadcasting, higher education and town government to his ability to work with people. "I love to meet people. It helps me put my best foot forward."
One of his priorities as Lander's development director is to convince alumni, friends, foundations and corporations that the university needs their financial support, especially in light of cuts in state funding. "The need is crucial," he said.
Patterson's immediate focus is raising funds for the Jeff May Complex, Lander's recreation, wellness and sports center, which is under construction on Montague Ave. in Greenwood and is scheduled to open next fall. He will also seek financial support for Lander's new Equestrian Center, located on the campus of Burton Center.
He said, "I'm happy to be a part of the phenomenal things that Lander is capable of accomplishing."
Adam Taylor, vice president of University Advancement, said, "We are happy to have Ralph as director of development, a position which is critical to Lander's ability to continue offering a quality education to students who come to us from all over the country." Taylor, who oversees Lander's development functions, added that Patterson's diverse background in athletics, higher education and local government will serve him and the university well as he interacts with people at all levels in the community.
Patterson is married and he and his wife, Lynn, a first-grade teacher at Cherokee Trail Elementary School in Donalds, have two sons.