Cory Patterson named Illinois football tight ends coach

Illinois named Cory Patterson the program’s tight ends coach Friday afternoon.

The announcement came minutes after Illinois named Rod Smith as the team’s new offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

“Cory Patterson is an up-and-coming star in the coaching world,” Lovie Smith said in a press release. “I got to know him while he was doing an outstanding job at Trinity Catholic, and saw the coaching and leadership skills that will be a tremendous fit at the University of Illinois. He is a high-energy, highly motivated young coach.”

Patterson was head coach at Trinity Catholic High School in St. Louis, the school that freshman Larry Boyd attended before going to Illinois.

A hot commodity, Patterson will surely help Illinois in recruiting.