The Commanders' Week 5 Flag Coach of the Week is Gainesville's Matthew Patterson. Coach Patterson is tirelessly dedicated to the growth of youth and high school sports in his community. He serves as head coach for Gainesville High School's first-year girls' flag football team and wrestling team, as well as an assistant coach for the tackle football team.
Deeply committed to developing athletes at every level, Coach Patterson has also long supported the Gainesville Grizzlies youth program as both a coach and a former commissioner. In addition, he is the founder and head official of a referee group that oversees youth football officiating across the DMV. Coach Patterson's service has made a lasting impact on countless athletes and families in Gainesville and beyond.
Commanders.com sat down for an exclusive with Coach Patterson following his Coach of the Week win.
Q: Congratulations on being named the Commanders' Week 5 Flag Coach of the Week! How does it feel to receive an honor like this?
A: "It's pretty awesome. I greatly appreciated the other coaches taking the time to put the nomination in. I also just want to send a special thanks with the donation from the Commanders that goes to the program. It's going to mean so much. I've already thought about some of the end-of-the-year stuff, like customized hoodies with their name on it, that it could go to. That's all thanks to you all because we're a brand-new sport, and we don't have a big fund to pick from. You all have made it possible to do something really special for them."
Q: What have you learned so far from being involved in girls' flag?
A: "It was a pretty neat opportunity. I've been involved in a youth organization in the area for many years, and they had a flag league forever. Years ago, I put an all-girls team together to play against the boys and did that for several years in that league. So, this presented me a unique opportunity to get back into that space."
Q: Do you have a motto or mantra that anchors you in your work?
A: "Regardless of the sport that I'm coaching, we always look to control the controllables. So focus, effort and energy, regardless of athletic ability, regardless of experience in the sport, those are three things that you can control every day when we show up for practice or every day when we step on the field for a game. And specifically this year, with this group of girls, some of them have hardly ever watched football, and now they're playing it. It's brand-new to the entire group, so there's going to be learning curves, there's a lot that we're going to teach, but control the controllables. If you show up focused, you give me max effort and your energy level is high, we're going to succeed."
Q: What's important to focus on in creating a successful, sustainable program?
A: "It's the building blocks. Teaching them the fundamentals. Sharing my passion for the sport with them. I do have seniors, but I also have a lot of underclassmen, and I really feel that if they want to come back and play the next year, especially it being a new sport, then I've really done my job."
