David Patterson

Class:

First Year

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            Dr. David Patterson begins his first season as the director of rowing at Fairfield University. He will oversee the women's program, which begins its 10th season of varsity competition. Patterson will also lead the men's program into its first varsity season after many seasons as a club sport.

            Patterson comes to Fairfield University after spending the last two seasons as the director of rowing at Iona College. During his tenure, he built the Gaels program into a respected program within the region. Under this guidance, the women's team earned silver and bronze medals at the New York State championships in 2006, and three gold medals with a bronze medal at the 2007 regatta. The men's program secured a silver medal at the Dad Vails in 2007.

            He went to Iona after spending two years at Smith College first as an assistant varsity coach and then head novice coach of the women's program. During his two-year stint working for Head Coach Karen Klinger, the team accomplished back-to-back second place finishes at the NCAA Division III championships. Smith captured the women's and overall points trophies at the New England Championships during his stay.

            His coaching resume also includes a stint at the Queen's College of Oxford University in England. He coached the men's first varsity eight squad. He coached two years at the State University of New York at Binghamton (April, 2000 to May 2002) where he coached the women's varsity program to their only appearance in the varsity eight grand final at the Dad Vail Regatta, as well as the program's only invitation to the ECAC National Invitational Regatta. Patterson also coached the men's team at Binghamton, working with the varsity and novice teams as an assistant.

            On the water, Patterson competed in the first varsity 8 for four years at Edinburgh University. He earned six goal medals at the Scottish University championships, two gold medals and one silver medallion at the British Universities Sports Association Regattas. In 1999, he was selected for the Scotland National Team for the Home Countries Regatta (England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales). He also won a bronze medal in the men's pair at the United States Club National Championships in 2001.

            Patterson earned a master's degree in exercise and sports studies at Smith College, and secured a first degree in linguistics , a master's degree in cognitive science, as well as a PhD in linguistics from the University of Edinburgh.