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Thursday, March 7, 2013
 Texas hires Suddes as director of personnel
By Carter Strickland

 AUSTIN, Texas -- Mack Brown’s theory of "If you can’t beat them, hire them" has continued.

The Longhorns on Thursday hired Patrick Suddes, associate director of football operations at the University of Alabama. Suddes will be Texas’ director of player personnel, the school announced. Suddes is Texas’ second hire in the last three years from Alabama, as Brown hired away defensive line coach Bo Davis away from Alabama in 2011. Suddes had spent the last six seasons at Alabama, including the last five as associate director of football operations.

At Texas, Suddes will be charged with overseeing the recruiting process and creating new multimedia avenues for Texas to reach out and stay in contact with recruits and coaches.

In describing what he was looking for when Texas listed the position on Feb. 21, Brown said: "What we feel like it needs to be is as good a recruiting coordinator as there is in the country and that would mean a guy that can look at the new rules and see, what can we send out, and be the best. One time we were the best in our media guides and one time we were the best in our website. Right now I don't think we are, and that's who this person we think needs to be.’’

Suddes will also coordinate Texas football camps and the annual clinic for high school coaches.

“When I was growing up, The University of Texas was always one of the programs that I thought about as a great place to be because of its tradition and history as a winning program,” Suddes said in a release. “This is the only job I would have left the Alabama program for. I think being able to grow within a system and building something new here is an opportunity I couldn’t pass up."

“We are so excited to have Patrick joining our staff,” Brown said in a release. “He’s a guy that is very passionate about recruiting and building a team. He has a great deal of experience in recruiting and player personnel both at the college and pro levels. Everyone we talked to said he’s the guy you need, and then Patrick knocked us out in his interview. He’s a very personable guy, but he’s also aggressive and competitive in his approach. I know he’s a guy that will come right in and hit the ground running, which is exactly what we need. I think he’s the perfect fit to build and lead our player personnel department.’’

Suddes also brings NFL experience to the table as he worked with Nick Saban in Miami as both a defensive and offensive assistant. He was responsible for quality control, including scouting reports, in both positions.

“I had a chance to be around Pat when he was with the Dolphins,” former Texas and Miami running back Ricky Williams said in a release. “He was one of those ambitious young guys that was always working and doing anything he could to help the team. I’m not surprised to see he’s worked his way up in the profession and had so much success. Coach Brown only hires the best, so it’s exciting to have him at Texas.”