James Patton Position: Offensive Line Coach Birthdate: 03/21/1971 Experience: Seventh Season

James Patton is in his seventh season at Northwestern, and his fifth as the offensive line coach. He spent his first two years with the Wildcats in charge of the tight ends and H-Backs.

Following his first season at Northwestern, Wildcat tight end Jay Tant was picked by the Arizona Cardinals in the 2000 NFL draft. Two members of his 2001 offensive line, Leon Brockmeier and Mike Souza, were invited to play in one of the five postseason all-star games. In 2002-03, Austin King and Jeff Roehl, participated in postseason all-star games. King and Roehl are now playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and New York Giants, respectively.

NU's three senior linemen from 2004 -- Trai Essex, Ikechuku Ndukwe and Matt Ulrich -- are expected to pursue a professional playing career. Ulrich participated in the 2005 Villages Gridiron Classic. In 2004, Northwestern's offense ranked 29th nationally in total offense with tackle Zach Strief receiving second-team All-Big Ten recognition.

In 1998, Patton coached the tight ends and H-backs at his alma mater, Miami University. Patton, 34, earned four letters at Miami as a tight end. He tallied 45 catches for 504 yards and one touchdown during his four-year career, including 16 catches for 166 yards his senior season. He was named a captain his senior year, and earned first-team All-Mid-American Conference honors.

After working as a graduate assistant for two seasons at Miami, Patton joined the Rhode Island staff in 1995.

He was the Rams' tight end and tackles coach and served as the squad's assistant strength and conditioning coach during the 1995 and 1996 seasons. He then served as the team's offensive line coach for the 1997 campaign. Patton earned a bachelor's degree in health and sports studies in 1993 and a master's in sports psychology from Miami.

James and his wife, Nichole, have a son, Brayden, and two daughters, Katelynne and Maddie, and they reside in Skokie.

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