Jeff Patton was chosen as EKU’s assistant volleyball coach in February 2019.
Patton came to Eastern Kentucky from Northwestern University where he was a volunteer assistant coach for the Wildcats. During his time at Northwestern he oversaw the team’s serving training and strategies during matches, while also creating scouting reports and videos.
“I am thrilled to have Jeff as part of the EKU volleyball program,” head Coach Johnna Bazzani said. “He spent two seasons at a Big Ten program where he gained extensive knowledge, which he brings to elevate our volleyball program.”
During the fall 2021 season, Patton helped the team improve by eight wins from the season before, and in its first season as a member of the ASUN Conference, the Colonels qualified for the league tournament as the No. 3 seed from the West Division.
The development of a young team continued in 2021. EKU’s roster featured five true freshmen and seven second-year freshmen. Second-year freshmen Molly Michalak and Sarah Mitchell continued to excel, finishing sixth and seventh in the ASUN in kills respectively. True freshmen Anna Purichia, who was chosen to the ASUN Conference All-Freshmen Team, made an immediate impact.
The Auburn, California native played two years of collegiate volleyball at Loyola University. During his senior campaign he ranked fourth on the team in service aces and helped lead his team to its first-ever NCAA semifinal berth.
“Jeff had the opportunity to play for one of the top men’s volleyball programs, where he helped lead the team to an NCAA semifinal,” Bazzani said. “With that experience alone, I know he can help in the development of our middle blockers and pin hitters.”
Patton was a coach and part time assistant club director for the D1 Volleyball Club, where he worked to maximize their talent to compete at the regional, state and nation levels.
Patton received a master’s in counseling with a specialization is sport and health psychology from Adler University.
