ESPN national recruiting director Paul Biancardi says Arkansas associate head coach David Patrick is the real deal.
“I’m impressed with the way he carries himself,” Biancardi said. “He’s a very good recruiter. He’s a good basketball coach with Xs and Os. I think he brings the whole package as an associate head coach.”
Patrick was the head coach at the UC Riverside the last two seasons and was a finalist for two national awards after leading the Highlanders to a 17-15 record this past season. The 17 victories tied the most wins in Division I program history.
“He was jumpstarting that program,” Biancardi said. “He was doing a good job. That’s a tough, tough job with the budgets with the way they are in the California State system.”
He and Razorbacks coach Eric Musselman worked together at LSU, where Patrick was credited for recruiting his godson Ben Simmons, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft.
Biancardi detailed what makes Patrick an excellent recruiter.
“I think his personality. He’s inquisitive,” Biancardi said. “He’s personable. He carries a strong conversation and I think he’s transparent, too. I think he’s all those things on the phone and in person, and that creates a level of trust and level of respect with people.”
Patrick’s resume also includes assistants jobs at Nicholls State, St. Mary’s, LSU and TCU. His diverse background should benefit Arkansas.
“He’s experienced and he has a good demeanor and has a great work ethic,” Biancardi said. “I think he’s well connected. You bring that head coaching experience and look at his assistant coaching background at the St Mary’s of the world on the West Coast ... He was in Texas, he was in the SEC at LSU. I think he brings a very good variety to Arkansas and to a guy that has a lot of variety in his life with Muss.”
Biancardi, who has known Patrick for about nine years, believes Musselman and Patrick are similar in their ability to flourish in any region of the country.
“I call them chameleons,” Biancardi said. “They can be good wherever they go. Some people have to maybe be from a certain part of the country to be good at their job. When you look at Muss, that’s not the case. When you look at David Patrick, that’s not the case. Those guys can go wherever they are and win.
"They make things better than what they found. That to me is impressive.”
The hiring also shows Musselman being secure in who he is, Biancardi added.
“It shows me a lot when a head coach hires another head coach,” he said. “It tells me that head coach wants to be great, is not afraid to be challenged in a healthy way and is open to debate on things. I think what he did was strengthen his staff in a top league in the country.
“A lot of guys just hire yes men and guys that are going to do whatever they’re told.”
Biancardi, who was a college coach for more than 20 years, was named Horizon League Coach of the Year in 2004 while the head coach at Wright State. He was an assistant at St. Louis, Ohio State and Boston College as well.
“I know when I worked for Rick Majerus, he said, ‘I’m not just going to ask you what I think we should do. I want you to tell me why we should do it’,” Biancardi said. “I think that’s what a former head coach brings, that battle-tested experience.”