Allen Park, Mich. – The Detroit Lions announced today that they have hired Matt Patricia as the franchise’s new head coach.
STATEMENT FROM EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER BOB QUINN
“When we launched the search for our next head coach, I wanted to find a leader that could take us to the next level and I am confident we have found that in Matt Patricia. He has been preparing for this opportunity his entire career, and he’s ready for the responsibility and its challenges. “Matt is driven to succeed, has extreme passion for the game and excels in preparation. He embodies the same hard-working, blue-collar attributes that represent our organization and the great City of Detroit.” PATRICIA’S CAREER AND PERSONAL BACKGROUND Patricia brings to Detroit 20 years of coaching experience in the college and professional ranks, including the past 14 seasons with the New England Patriots. During his time in New England, Patricia helped lead the organization to three Super Bowl Championships (XXXIX, XLIX, LI), six AFC Championships and 13 AFC East Division Championships. In all 14 of his seasons at the Patriots, New England finished with 10 or more wins, including 11 seasons with 12 or more wins. Patricia, who has coached on both defense and offense, spent the last six seasons (2012-17) serving as the Patriots defensive coordinator following previous stints as the team’s safeties coach (2011), linebackers coach (2006-10), assistant offensive line coach (2005) and coaching assistant (2004). As defensive coordinator, he coached in three Super Bowls and six AFC Championship games. In 2017, the Patriots ranked fifth in the NFL in points allowed per game (18.5) en route to a 13-3 record. New England held teams to 20 points or fewer in 11 games last year (2nd in NFL), including 10 games with 17 or fewer. In 2016, the team boasted the top-overall scoring defense in the NFL, allowing only 15.6 points per game. Over the past six years, the Patriots, while accumulating an NFL-best 75-21 (.781) record during that span, rank second in points allowed (19.2), fourth in games allowing 20 points or fewer (53) and second in games allowing 17 points or fewer (47). The team’s 157 takeaways since 2012, which rank sixth in the NFL, also helped New England accumulate an NFL-best +71 turnover differential during that span. The Patriots won at least 12 games in each of those six seasons. Since moving over to coach on the defensive side of the ball in 2006, Patricia assisted in the Patriots finishing among the top 10 in points allowed during 11 of his 12 seasons with the defense. Patricia earned his start with the Patriots in 2004 where he began as a coaching assistant en route to the team’s victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX. Prior to New England, Patricia spent six years in the college ranks, including stints at Syracuse as a graduate assistant (2001-03) and Amherst College where he coached the defensive line (1999-2000). He began his coaching career at his alma mater, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (R.P.I), as a graduate assistant in 1996 before spending two years working as an aeronautical engineer. Raised in Sherrill, N.Y., Patricia attended Vernon-Verona-Sherrill Central School, where he lettered in football and wrestling. He played both center and guard at R.P.I., helping the Engineers to a 31-8 record and three ECAC Championships during his collegiate career. He graduated from R.P.I. with a bachelor’s degree in aeronautical engineering and went on to earn a master’s degree in education from the University of Massachusetts. Matt and his wife, Raina, have two sons, Dominic and Dante, and a daughter, Giamina. PATRICIA'S COACHING BACKGROUND NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 2004-17 Defensive Coordinator 2012-17 Safeties 2011 Linebackers 2006-10 Assistant Offensive Line 2005 Coaching Assistant 2004 SYRACUSE 2001-03 Graduate Assistant 2001-03 AMHERST 1999-2000 Defensive Line 1999-2000 RENSSELAER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE 1996 Graduate Assistant 1996