Football Southern Conference

Pate Promoted to Associate Head Coach

STATESBORO, Ga. -- Georgia Southern defensive line coach and recruiting coordinator John Pate, who will begin his 13th overall season on the Eagle football staff this fall, has been promoted to associate head coach according to an announcement from head coach Mike Sewak Tuesday.

Pate's service to the Eagle football program is unparalleled after working a total of 170 games on the Georgia Southern sideline, which stands as the most in school history.

In his eighth season of his second tour of duty at GSU after rejoining the Eagle staff in November, 1996, Pate also served as a graduate assistant and full-time defensive line coach under Erk Russell at Georgia Southern from 1985 to 1989. He has been a key staff component in five of the Eagles' six NCAA Division I-AA National Championships, helping the program to titles in 1985, 1986, 1989, 1999 and 2000.

Sewak indicated Pate has already embraced the new position with the creation and management of the program's initial alumni chapter while also handling a number of additional responsibilities off the field, including team travel.

"Loyalty and dedicated service are certainly valued and substantial qualities in any setting," Sewak said. "John has faithfully contributed the majority of his career to Georgia Southern and this football program."

In 12 seasons, Pate has tutored six All-America and eight All-Southern Conference performers on the defensive line. In addition to five national titles, he has helped guide GSU to an overall record of 142-28 (.835), a 32-6 (.842) playoff mark, seven I-AA National Championship Game appearances and six SoCon crowns.

Pate began his collegiate coaching career in 1982 as defensive coordinator at Georgia Southwestern College. In 1984, he was named head coach at Union College (Ky.) before coming to Georgia Southern as a graduate assistant in 1985.

He returned to Georgia Southern and became a member of Paul Johnson's staff in 1996 after assistant and head coaching stints at West Georgia College (1990), Lees McRae College (1991-1993), Sue Bennett College
(1994-95) and Bulloch Academy (1996).

Pate earned a bachelor's degree in psychology from North Georgia College in 1978 and a master's degree in sports management from Georgia Southern in 1987.