Football

When the opportunity was given to Price Partrick to continue serving as Tennessee Tech’s Director of Football Operations, there was no hesitation.

Partrick joins Golden Eagle football coach Dewayne Alexander’s staff for his second tour of duty in the DoFO post, following a stint in that role in 2017 for Coach Marcus Satterfield’s staff.

“I’m just glad to be back home,” Partrick said. “Being on a staff like Coach Alexander has assembled, it’s amazing. The vision he has for Tennessee Tech is one I’d love to be a part of and I’m glad to have the opportunity to be back at my school, get to work with some familiar faces and some old teammates like Tre Lamb and Taylor Hennigan – it’s going to be awesome. I’m looking forward to it.”

Alexander added, “He came highly recommended by so many people here. I’ve known Price – he was a player when I coached here, then he came on as a coach when I was here, so I’ve got a previous relationship with him. On top of that, you throw in the fact that (Associate Athletic Director) Tammie McMillan and other people on campus had positives to say about him.

“You have to understand that when you’re putting together the business side of football – for example, bringing a recruit in, from the hotel room to reimbursement on mileage for official visits and all those things, booking certain buildings on campus. There are processes that you have to go through, dot the I’s and cross the T’s just to make sure everything is good and he has done that.”

Of course, it’s not a new role for Partrick. Knowing how to get things done and who to talk to makes it a perfect fit in the transition.

“I enjoy the business side of football,” Partrick said. “I didn’t know if I would, transitioning off the field, but it’s fun to be out there working face-to-face with people. I feel like we can get a lot more done when they can put a face to the name like that instead of sending e-mails. Knowing how things work and who to see is going to be a big help and Coach A knows that. That’s a big reason why I’m here.”

Alexander said, “He’s done that here at Tennessee Tech and has had positive relationships with housing, the cafeteria, different businesses and hotels. He knows that and the processes. He’s worked closely with Tammie and (Director of Compliance) Amanda Thatcher. There’s a lot of paperwork that you have to do that all has to be on the same page. He’s someone that I can communicate well with, and he’s already been in the position. It’s not an easy position to just bring somebody in and teach them all of the things that’s involved.”

And for Partrick, it’s hard to stay away from the players he’s worked alongside for what’s starting to become a long time.

“They’re family,” he said. “I’ve coached a lot of these guys. I’ve coached three positions in my four years here and been on both sides of the ball. I have a lot of special connections to just about everybody on this team.”

Partrick spent the 2016 campaign as an offensive quality control coach and tight ends coach, following a year each as the wide receivers coach (2015) and as a student assistant working with the wide receivers (2014).

He spent the 2010-11 season at The Citadel as a medical redshirt, then transferred to Chattanooga in 2011-12 as he continued to rehab from shoulder surgery.

Partrick attempted to play for the Golden Eagles in the 2013 season as a receiver, but another shoulder injury in practice ended that effort. But then-Tech head coach Watson Brown saw something in Partrick and his knowledge of the team's receivers, bringing him on as a student assistant in the spring -- jumpstarting his coaching career.

He received his bachelor’s degree in fitness and wellness from Tech in 2014.