Abilene Christian head coach Keith Patterson has a knack for finding quality young coaches. Since he arrived in Abilene three years ago, the Wildcats have seen defensive coaches Skyler Cassity leave for Sam Houston and eventually North Texas. Julian Wilson followed Cassity to UNT this year, and Jarred Holley departed to be the defensive backs coach at Marshall.

The success extends to the support staff with former strength and conditioning coaches Corey Smith and Luke Lancaster taking jobs in the NFL with the New York Jets and New Orleans Saints, respectively.

Another position on Patterson’s staff that has been in flux since his arrival is offensive coordinator. The Wildcats' offense averaged nearly 34 points per game in 2024, a rise of almost eight points per game from its 2023 output. However, that success led to Rick Bowie's departure to Western Kentucky, leaving Patterson to search for a replacement for the fourth time in four seasons.

Patterson replaced Bowie with West Texas favorite Graham Harrell, the former Texas Tech quarterback and recent College Football Hall of Fame selection. Patterson has been impressed so far.

“I love Rick to death, and he was the perfect coach for us last season,” Patterson said. “But I believe Graham Harrell is the right guy moving forward, and I don’t just say that because of his name. He has self-confidence and a competitive spirit, and it’s easy to see why he has achieved so much as a quarterback and coach.”

Few have the pedigree of Harrell, whose father, Sam, is a renowned Texas high school football coach and was an assistant under the legendary Gordon Wood in Brownwood. Harrell’s college coach, Mike Leach, changed the game of college football with his air raid attack. Add in assistant coaching stops under Mike Gundy and Dana Holgorsen at Oklahoma State, along with a stop under Leach at Washington State, and it’s challenging to find another FCS coach with Harrell’s experience.

“I’ve been around a lot of coaches, and I’m telling you this guy brings the intensity,” Patterson said. “It’s almost like having a defensive coach on the offensive side of the ball. He coaches his guys hard, and he’s the right guy at the right time for this program.”

Unfortunately for Harrell and the ACU faithful, quarterback Maverick McIvor followed Bowie to Western Kentucky after guiding the Wildcats to the program’s first United Athletic Conference title and bid to the FCS playoffs.

However, another familiar name returned to Abilene to compete for the starting quarterback job. Stone Earle, who started seven games for ACU in 2021 before suffering an injury, returns after stops at North Texas and Marshall. He joins Troy transfer Quayde Hawkins and Tulane transfer Carson Haggard, who led the Wildcats to the program’s first FCS playoff victory over Northern Arizona when McIvor was sidelined with a concussion.

ACU fans will see more new names and faces on offense in 2025, as the Wildcats replace seven starters from last year. Still, Patterson believes his team has the talent to repeat as UAC champions if they can play with the same consistency as last season. Patterson thinks the 2025 defense will be the best during his tenure.

ACU’s defense shone in a shutout victory over Northern Arizona in the first round, which Patterson said is one of the best defensive performances he’s seen. The Wildcats trailed eventual national champion North Dakota State by three points at halftime in the second round before the Bison turned up the pressure, forcing three turnovers in the second half. Yet, Patterson saw that experience as a positive for his program.

“We were not intimidated at all. Our kids went out and competed, and you have to go through something like that to see what it takes to win at their level,” Patterson said. “You’re not going to go in there and knock them out without playing a complete game.”

Cory’s Take

ACU fans should be overjoyed to see them fifth in the UAC predictions, considering they earned the program’s first conference title and playoff appearance since transitioning to FCS after being placed fifth in last year’s magazine predictions.

Still, replacing seven starters on offense, including three of the five offensive linemen and multiple skill players, while learning a new scheme under a new offensive coordinator for the fourth consecutive year is a significant challenge.

While Patterson believes the defense is further along this year than in previous years, the Wildcats replace both starting safeties, the SAM linebacker, and two defensive tackles. Add the doubts together, and Patterson is likely to lead ACU to the FCS national championship game in Nashville this year based on our previous predictions.

- Written by Cory Hogue