Saddleback Hires Patton as Assistant

MISSION VIEJO —  Eric Patton, a member of the Capistrano Valley football coaching staff the past 18 years and head coach for the last seven, will join the Saddleback College football staff this fall, the college announced Wednesday.

The hiring is pending board approval Feb. 27.

Patton, whose son, Scott, is Saddleback’s starting free safety, will work with the Gaucho defense.

“Taking this position had more to do with the opportunity to work with (head coach) Bill Cunerty rather than Scott,” Patton said in a release. “I was able to coach Scott in high school and am glad to see he has developed into a good football player. It will be interesting to work with him again.”

Patton played at Mater Dei in the mid-’60s, when he earned All-CIF and county all-star recognition as a middle linebacker. He started two seasons at Notre Dame and was drafted by the Green Bay Packers, only to be released before the season. He played for the Southern California Sun of the World Football League in 1974 and ’75.

Patton’s coaching experience includes heading Mater Dei’s freshman team in 1973 and serving as an assistant at San Clemente in 1976. When Capistrano Valley opened in 1977, Patton was hired as an assistant coach for Cunerty, the Cougars’ head coach at the time. Cunerty left Capistrano Valley in 1980 to take a position at Saddleback.

“I’m real happy to have him join our staff,” Cunerty said. “He’s an exceptional coach.”

Patton compiled a career record of 54-25-1 at Capistrano Valley, winning a league title in 1989 and the Southern Section Division II championship in 1990.