Gateway Charter hires Michael Patterson as football program's next head coach

Gateway Charter hires Michael Patterson as football program’s next head coach

Posted by author January 30, 2025 Football

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The next chapter in the Gateway Charter football program has arrived.

The Griffins hired Michael Patterson as the program’s next head football coach. Patterson replaces Ben Daley, who coached the program for seven seasons, finishing with a 20-44 record.

“It’s awesome,” Patterson said of the opportunity. “I’m getting in there, meeting the kids, meeting the administration. I think coach Daley laid a great foundation and it’s my job, me and my staff’s job, to come in and build a house.”

Patterson hails from Georgia, previously coaching in various roles at Thomas Country Central (Ga.), Immokalee, Lehigh, and most recently, East Lee County. In his 15 years of coaching, he’s been a part of 12 playoff appearances and six district titles, a culture in which he intends to bring to a Gateway Charter program that last had a winning season in 2019.

“My philosophy is to come in and not just talk about winning, but we’re going to show the actions of a winner,” Patterson said. “The difference between a winner and a loser is very small, but the winner shows up every day and puts the work in every single day. They expect to win.

“That may be what the program has been missing, the expectation to win. We’re gonna come in and do the work. At the end of the day, you can’t substitute work.”

Daley still serves as the school’s athletic director but had to step away from coaching with a 300 seat increase, along with the program also adding flag football as well as other sports.

“I was very particular with who was going to take over for me,” Daley said. “I got a fatherly vibe from him. He’s going to care for the program. He’s a local guy, been around a lot of good programs. He was at Immokalee and Lehigh for a couple of years under (former head coach James) Chaney. He knows the kids and knows the area.

“He’s a defensive minded guy as well. Integrity is huge to me too. I’ve reached out to a lot of the places he’s been and that’s been the No. 1 thing. He’s always doing things the right way. I feel like he’s going to build great relationships here at Gateway Charter.”

With a team meeting scheduled later this week or on Monday, Patterson aims to turn the Griffins into a contender once again in the Sunshine State Athletic Association, having last won a state championship in 2022.

“We’re coming in to build a winning culture,” Patterson said. “Our culture is going to dictate how this upcoming season is going to go. We’re all about student-athletes in the classroom. That’s gotta be the first thing we’ve gotta take care of. The second part is the athlete part, developing them from young boys into young men.”

Follow Sports Reporter Alex Martin on X: @NP_AlexMartin. For the best sports coverage in Southwest Florida, follow @newspresssports and @ndnprepzone on Instagram.