West Virginia University Athletics

John Patterson joined the Mountaineer Athletic Club in November 2022 as its associate athletic director/deputy executive director. He was recently promoted to senior associate athletic director/executive director.
 
In this capacity, he assists deputy athletics director Ben Murray in the management and leadership of all development activities within WVU's Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. He will assist in the pursuit of funding for endowments, capital projects, special events, major and planned gifts as well as the priority seating, suite and club seat programs.
 
Patterson comes to WVU from Michigan State where he served as assistant athletic director for development. During his eight-year tenure with the Spartans, he was the chief architect of a new major gift society that has increased six-figure commitments by nearly 400%. He also solicited more than 100 gifts of $50,000+, which has totaled more than $18 million for the Spartan Fund.
 
Prior to Michigan State, Patterson spent three years fundraising for Vanderbilt’s National Commodore Club and his collegiate athletics experience also includes a year stint at Western Kentucky as its ticket sales coordinator.
 
Originally from Columbia, Tennessee, Patterson played college football at Memphis where he earned a bachelor’s degree in sport management. He later received an MBA from Marshall University.
 
John and his wife Jenny have two sons, Jack and Finn.
 
They reside in Morgantown.