TCU hires Sonny Dykes: What’s next as Horned Frogs tab SMU coach to replace Gary Patterson

TCU has hired SMU’s Sonny Dykes as its next head coach, the program announced on Monday. Dykes will join Horned Frogs after five years as a coach at SMU, where he led the Mustangs to a 30-17 record including the show’s first 10-win season since 1983.

Dykes, 52, was considered the favorite from the start to land the TCU job after Horned Frogs parted ways with longtime coach Gary Patterson on October 31. He is the first coach since The Southwest Conference ended keeping the winning streak against the opponent. TCU after a 42-34 win on September 25.

Before joining SMU, Dykes was a coach at Louisiana Tech (2010-12) and Cal (2013-16). He led the Bulldogs to a 17-8 record in his last two seasons and Cal won his first bowl in seven years off the No. NFL Drafts picked Jared Goff in 2015. However, Dykes was fired the following year after being extended his contract.

After firing from Cal, Dykes, son of the former Texas Technology coach Spike Dykes, spent a year at TCU as an offensive analyst. He also trains under Hal Mumme at Kentucky, Mike Leach at Texas Tech and Mike stopped at Arizona before getting his first head coach job with Louisiana Tech.

So what does Dykes bring to the TCU show when he steps into the shoes of legendary Patterson? Here are a few key takeaways as Horned Frogs have chosen their next trainer.

Dykes offers a transferable model

When Dykes Came SMU in 2017, he found a struggling program to take advantage of its greatest advantage – the Dallas-Fort Worth area. A year later, Dykes brought in Arlington native Shane Buechele as quarterback, built a massive marketing campaign around the Dallas players on the roster and the rest is history.

Since then, SMU has become a destination for former Metroplex players to move back home, including blue-chips such as midfielders. Tanner Mordecai, reverse angle Jahari Rogers and tackle defense Mike Williams. SMU even has two top rookies from nearby Garland committed to 2022.

With a strong position in the target area, TCU has the potential to achieve even more with this strategy. Many of the blue-chip players come from the DFW Metroplex, and TCU has the stature to compete with anyone in terms of recruitment or transfers.

The assistant will make this hire

Dykes was very successful in hiring great Texas assistants during his time at SMU. Offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee was so successful that Manny Diaz poached him at Miami. Defensive coordinator Kevin Kane has been hired as assistant head coach at Illinois. Defensive team coach Randall Joyner left for Ole Miss, while full-back coach Kevin Curtis is currently at Baylor.

Two of Dykes’ best employees will now be Metroplex’s top targets. Assistant head coach and running back coach Ra’Shaad . Pattern is a rising star in the industry. Son of legendary Duncanville (TX) coach Reginald Sa Mau, 26-year-old Ra’Shaad is considered one of the best Texas recruiters nationwide. Offensive coordinator Garrett Riley kept the Ponies offense on track through a change of coordinator. Oklahoma coach Lincoln’s brother Riley has SMU ranked as one of the top 15 offenders in the nation.

Both Sa Sample and Riley will almost certainly be considered for head coaches at SMU when Dykes leaves, not to mention other Power Five opportunities. To keep them in the fold would be a coup. Despite that, Dykes was very well employed during his time at SMU.

Time is very important

TCU chose to fire Patterson after more than 20 years on the show because the Horned Frogs were probably their worst team overall since joining the Big 12. The show needed to change quickly as the league prepared to salute welcome four new members in 2023.

The Frogs’ initial success in 2014 after joining the Big 12 has helped make TCU one of the convention’s top shows for nearly a decade. TCU is only behind Texas and Oklahoma in the 247Sports Talent Composite, and won a piece of the Big 12 in 2014 while finishing in the top 10 three times.

The Horned Frogs are yet to finish with over seven wins since 2017, but Dykes enters a much better situation than the one he took over at SMU in 2017. Bringing TCU back to the conversation 10 wins – and Iron Skillet’s return to the top – will put the show in a strong position to head towards.