John Patrick of Chicago, IL was a star captain of Oglethorpe’s football team who played alongside and later coached multiple Petrel legends.
Patrick was a member of the Olympics Club, the O Club, and was sophomore class poet. After graduation, he took over as head coach of Oglethorpe's football team and coached until World War II shuttered all athletics in 1942.
His best team was the 1934 squad which posted a 5-4-1 record. “Coach Pat was a tireless worker but was confronted with a depression budget. His teams, though not as successful as earlier teams, were typical Stormy Petrels. They were tough, conditioned, disciplined and well-coached. Their schedule was still tough with Kentucky, Miami, Georgia, Auburn, The Citadel and Chattanooga included in the opposition.”
His most notable players include: Little All-American Jack Puryear, Frank Metrick, Kimsey Stewart, Ernie Sheffield, Bot Owens, Fred Kelley and Cecil Moon. Several of his players are fellow hall-of-famers.
Patrick married Savetuca “Elizabeth/Betty” Lazar on August 6th, 1934 and their son John J. was born a year later. Coach Pat frequently brought John J. Patrick to practices, where he was nicknamed Peppy. The family returned to Chicago after Oglethorpe athletics began their hiatus, then their second child Mary was born. Peppy later earned a football scholarship to Dartmouth and became a highly awarded historian before passing away in 2024.
Coach Pat served as Athletics Director and later Associate Superintendent of Schools in East Chicago before his death in 1970.
