ALBANY TECH ATHLETICS
100th Win! ATC Titans Head Men’s Coach Sylvester Patterson Talks About His ...
And Other Successes for the ATC Basketball Program
Since Albany Technical College began its first men’s team in 2007, it has been a road of progress to get the basketball program to where it is today. Men’s Head Coach, Sylvester Patterson, attributes the success to the support of the community, the ATC President, Dr. Anthony Parker, and many enhancements to the program.
The image of the college in the community has also improved and Patterson said he attributes that to the success and reputation of the basketball program. In past years, Patterson said “vo-tech” was still being used when referring to Albany Tech. That transitioned into “Tech College” and now the reference is “The Tech.”
Patterson says that when the program first started, the players did not have scholarships or housing. The program now offers full scholarships and housing through Albany State University. This alone has brought in players from the Virgin Islands, New York, Maryland, California, and other places.
Over the years, a total of 19 players have moved on to universities to continue their education and play, two of which moved on to Division I universities. Patterson says the players do well academically with most holding as high as a 4.0 GPA.
“The program has literally become international,” said Patterson. Patterson said that the support of Albany Tech’s President, Dr. Parker, has made a huge difference to the program and the players each year. “Dr. Parker is definitely our biggest fan,” said Patterson. 16 | access | Albany Technical College | Spring 2014
“ASU’s best player this year came from ATC,” said Patterson. Adding the women’s team has also had an impact. Although the women’s team wasn’t added until the 2009 season, Patterson said they are now well known with the women having a local rivalry with Darton’s women’s team. Another change the program has seen over the last few years is the recruitment of
younger players, particularly those coming right out of high school. Patterson said that with being able to offer housing at ASU, these young students are able to be on the campus of a four-year university while attending a two-year college. “It’s a win-win,” said Patterson.
Patterson said that his best recollections over the last years with the program is the Titans defeating four ranked teams and these players moving on to continue to do great things in the college basketball arena. Patterson’s goals are for the team to get better and better and the program to grow even more as the years go on. Coach Patterson actually achieved his 100th Win on November 9, 2013 against Georgia Gwinnett College. At the time, the Titans Men were currently 6-4.
Patterson said that his best recollections over the last years with the program is the Titans defeating four ranked teams and these players