Over The Pylon

Hello friends. How are you? That’s wonderful. Did you enjoy your Christmas? What’s that? You’re still full of eggnog and spiral cut ham? That happens to the best of us. However, while you were throwing chocolate chip cookies and all other manner of food and drink down your gullet, Ball State football was in the midst of hiring a new coach, which they announced today.

When Joey Lynch moved up to offensive coordinator following the departure of Rich Skrosky, that left a small hole in the form of Lynch’s positional responsibilities with the tight ends. Enter Patrick Dougherty to the fold. If he sounds familiar, then pin a gold star on your achievement board for “Good Memory”, as Dougherty was on staff in 2012 as an offensive graduate assistant. After spending the last year at Northwestern as a defensive quality control coach, Dougherty is back in Muncie, back in Cardinal and White, and (for his sake) off the SS Northwestern which has taken one of the most epic backslides this season that I can remember. I’m sure that wasn’t his fault.

BSU’s release on the hire…

Patrick Dougherty, who spent the 2012 season as an offensive graduate assistant coach at Ball State, has been named the school’s new tight ends coach, according to head coach Pete Lembo.

“The coaching staff and I are excited to have Pat back on board,” Lembo says. “He did an outstanding job for us in 2012 before departing for Northwestern University. Pat’s detailed knowledge of our program, our offensive system and our personnel makes him the perfect fit for this position at this time. He can jump right in and begin coaching as we prepare for the GoDaddy Bowl January 5th. Pat has a very bright future ahead of him in the coaching profession. I am confident he will make significant contributions as we move forward.”

Dougherty spent the 2013 season as a defensive quality control coach for head coach Pat Fitzgerald at Northwestern. He was responsible for opponent breakdown, assisting the linebackers coach, charting opponent’s offense during games and recruiting northwest Ohio, western Pennsylvania and Chicago.

As a graduate assistant for Coach Lembo at Ball State in 2012, Dougherty assisted with the offensive line, helped with defensive and special team scout units and assisted in recruiting.

A 2008 graduate of Ohio Dominican where he played linebacker for four seasons and was a two-year starter, Dougherty began his coaching career as the defensive line coach and assistant strength and conditioning coordinator at Defiance. He worked at Defiance during the 2009 and 2010 seasons. Dougherty later worked as the special teams coordinator and linebackers coach at Lindsey Wilson College in 2011 before joining Ball State as a graduate assistant.

Dougherty, who earned a master’s degree from Defiance in 2010, replaces Joey Lynch as tight ends coach for the Cardinals after he was promoted to offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at Ball State.

So welcome back Patrick, and if the Cardinals win their first bowl game a week after you arrive, you’re never leaving. We won’t let you. Just so you know.

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