Dantzler resigns football post at Patterson High

First-year Patterson High School football coach Marvin Dantzler has resigned, effective immediately.
“After reevaluating the year, I was very pleased with the way the kids responded and played hard for me, but there were things that I wasn’t pleased with that had nothing to do with football in general and that played a big role in my decision,” Dantzler said. “I don’t want to get into that, because I’m done with it and I’ve moved past it. I wish Patterson the best.”
Dantzler, a Louisiana native, came to Patterson after four years as head coach at Booker T. Washington High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The 36-year-old coach finished with a 33-12 record at Booker T. Washington, including back-to-back Class 6A semifinal appearances in 2014 and 2015. He also qualified for the playoffs in his first two seasons at the school.
But Patterson started 0-6 this season before winning three out four games to qualify for the Class 3A playoffs.
“It didn’t have anything to do with wins and losses,” Dantzler stressed. “We made the playoffs despite what the record was. We played a tough schedule, and we had our chances to beat the No. 5-seed (Marksville) Friday. Those kids grew so much by the end of the season.”
Patterson lost 51-33 in the first-round of the playoffs last week, but both Patterson and Dantzler extended long consecutive playoff appearance streaks.
“I feel I’ve won enough games in my career to get the proper time needed to fix things here,” Dantzler said. “But I’m not getting into all of that, but I’ll say this: As the season went on, I wasn’t feeling the way things are structured here. I’m not saying that my way is right and their’s isn’t, but after 18 years in this business, I expect more. But in the end, it came down to fits, and this just wasn’t a good fit for me.”
Patterson Principal Rachel Sanders echoed similar sentiments.
“I’m very disappointed to see him go,” Sanders said. “I was hoping he would stay. I just think things here are very different from want he was accustomed to in Tulsa.”
Patterson now will seek its third head coach in four years in 2017.
“I have asked assistant coach Charles Ryan Stewart to fill in as interim head coach, and he will be responsible for the closing of this season and keep us going,” Sanders said.
Sanders said Patterson will have another national search for a new head coach.
Dantzler was selected from 50 applicants last year.
“I came here to be closer to family, so I’m going to take this time to spend some quality time with my family,” Dantzler said. “I just going to take my time and see what’s out there. It’s only November. I enjoyed St. Mary Parish, and Louisiana is still where I want to be. I have to thank (St. Mary Parish) Superintendent (Lenny) Armato and (parish) athletic director (Mike) Ortiz for bringing me here and believing in me.”