Greensboro, Ga. (March 22, 2021) – Lake Oconee Academy is pleased to welcome back Ricardo Patton to the basketball program for the upcoming school year. Patton will return to the court as the Varsity Boys Basketball Head Coach and Director of Basketball. He brings with him more than 30 years of coaching experience at the middle school, high school and college level, including 11 years as the Head Men’s Basketball Coach at the University of Colorado from 1996-2007. He currently serves as the High School Golf Coach and Behavior Coach at Lake Oconee Academy.

Patton has lived in Greensboro since 2015 when he began coaching basketball at LOA. Prior to that, he served as a Basketball Advisor to the Men’s Basketball Team at Vanderbilt University,  Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach at The University of Denver,  Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach at the University of Maryland Eastern Shores, the Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Northern Illinois University and Head Men’s Basketball Coach at the University of Colorado. Patton is the second winningest coach in University of Colorado history with 184 career wins, two NCAA Men’s Basketball appearances, and four NIT appearances.

Chris Ingle, LOA’s Director of Athletics and Activities said, “Coach Patton’s extensive background at the highest levels of coaching basketball make him uniquely qualified to coach in the high school environment. His passion for the sport is evident whether it is in the classroom, at practice, or in big games. I look forward to working with him again as the leader of our boys basketball program. He is an outstanding coach and an even better person.”

Patton and his wife Jennifer have had ties to the area since 2002 and were regular visitors until they decided to make Lake Oconee their permanent home in 2015.  After a chance meeting with LOA CEO Dr. Otho Tucker in 2014, Coach Patton kept up with the progress and growth of LOA. Then, he had the opportunity to coach at the school. He was the head basketball and golf coach for one year before being called back to the college ranks. Rodney Billups, the brother of Chauncey Billups, who was one of Coach Patton’s former players at the University of Denver called to ask for his support.

“The Billups brothers are like my family,” said Patton. “I had a wonderful year at LOA in 2015-16, but I just could not say no to him. However, I am thrilled to have the opportunity to coach the Titans again. Since I have been away, the facilities have grown tremendously. The Titan Center Gym and the new weight room are second to none in Class A- Public schools in the state of Georgia. With the addition of our new baseball stadium and upcoming football and soccer complex, it is an exciting time to be a part of LOA Athletics. I cannot wait to get to work with our young men who want to play basketball for LOA. We will have opportunities for them throughout their 12 years on our campus.”

“Coach Patton and his wife, Jennifer are assets to Lake Oconee Academy and the entire community,” stated Dr. Tucker. “Her work as a counselor at LOA and his work as a coach and mentor are invaluable.  We are excited that they are a part of our faculty, and I am glad that he will again lead our boys basketball program.”