Patrick was diagnosed with familial ALS in May 2022 at age 34. Many of his family members have been affected by this disease, including his father who passed away in April 2020. Throughout the year, Patrick has lost all mobility in both of his arms, lost his ability to swallow, speak and breathe on his own. He now gets his nutrients through a feeding tube, uses an eye gaze device to communicate, and got a tracheostomy to help with his breathing on October 25, 2023.
Patrick is no longer able to work and needs 24-hour help by caregivers and nurses. All donated funds will be used to cover the 24-hour caregiving team Pat needs at home.
Pat’s Basketball Career
Pat was born and raised in Leesburg, Virginia, and graduated from Notre Dame Academy (Middleburg Academy) in Middleburg, Virginia. He played college basketball at Bucknell and went on to play overseas in Germany.
After his professional career ended, he first served as an assistant boys basketball coach at Loudoun County High School in Leesburg. He then served as an assistant men’s basketball coach at St. Mary’s College under head coach Chris Harney.
Pat moved on to become an assistant coach under head coach Sean McAloon at St. John’s College High School in Washington, D.C. He went on to become head coach at St. Mary’s Ryken High School in Leonardtown, Maryland, a position he held for three years.
In 2017, Pat returned to St. John’s to begin serving as the boys basketball head coach. After his diagnosis in May 2022, Pat decided to continue coaching. The 2022-2023 season was Pat’s final, and one to forever remember. He and the Cadets captured the WCAC Championship. The 2022-2023 season was full of accomplishments and will go down as one of the best ever in the rich history of SJC basketball.
Pat retired from coaching in August 2023. He continued to support the teams and players he loves. Pat continues to attend SJC games to support the Cadets and watches games of his former players from home. Pat was Named Special Adviser to Bucknell Head Men’s Basketball Coach Griffin in November 2024. Griffin was Pat’s teammate and roommate at Bucknell.
Pat has coached and served countless young men who’ve gone on to play at the DI, DII, and DIII levels. In addition to coaching boys basketball, Pat has taught English and history courses at the high school level. He has also written for The New York Times.