Hollister resident Jeff Patterson, the varsity football coach at
Morgan Hill’s Sobrato High School, has taken a leave of absence
while police investigate an accusation that he had oral sex with a
17-year-old student during school hours last Friday.
Morgan Hill – Hollister resident Jeff Patterson, the varsity football coach at Morgan Hill’s Sobrato High School, has taken a leave of absence while police investigate an accusation that he had oral sex with a 17-year-old student during school hours last Friday.
No charges have been filed and Patterson has not been arrested, but according to the Morgan Hill Police Department’s daily activity log, a woman on Tuesday told police her daughter forged a note to miss her sixth period math class on Friday, Nov. 4 at his urging. The woman said her daughter told her she then met Patterson, believed to be 31, at a trailer park on Burnett Avenue, traveled to the Morgan Hill UPS store, then performed oral sex on him in his car while parked along the road.
The police dispatch report said the contact “may be consensual, but the daughter did see a counselor today because she is very emotional.”
Patterson, who is married, did not return phone calls to his home in Hollister seeking comment. A woman at the house refused to comment.
Patterson was not at football practice Wednesday evening and district officials would not confirm if he had returned to the school since the report’s filing.
Interim head coach Joseph Bagley said that Patterson, who also teaches math, has not been suspended, but “has taken a personal leave of absence to take care of some personal stuff that came up.”
“I don’t know when he will return,” Bagley said. “The kids had a really great practice today and they really want to give him a win in this last game (of the season on Friday).”
The Morgan Hill Police Department is in the preliminary stages of the investigation, according to Cmdr. Terrie Booten. She said police began investigating the charges Tuesday, but she had no additional information by press time.
“They’re investigating it and looking into the particulars of the case,” Booten said. “I don’t have any additional information aside from what is on the dispatch report. There’s a very preliminary investigation, but we’re just getting started.”
Morgan Hill Police Chief Bruce Cumming said the victim’s testimony could be evidence enough to lead to an arrest, but it is too early in the investigation to confirm if an arrest will be made.
“Yes, but it depends on the circumstances and each case is different,” Cumming said. “We have a lot more investigating to do.”
Patterson joined the Sobrato staff in May of 2004 after serving as the head football coach and athletic director at Gonzales High School. He grew up in Gilroy and played quarterback for the Mustangs before graduating in 1992. He also attended and played football at Gavilan College. He graduated from San Jose State in 1998. Patterson is believed to be 31 years old, according to the dispatch report.
In 2001, Patterson coached the Gilroy football team under head coach Darren Yafai. He served as the Mustang’s freshman football coach in 2002.
Morgan Hill Unified School District Superintendent Alan Nishino said he was aware of the accusations, but could not comment. Sobrato Principal Rich Knapp refused to comment.
“I know about it,” Nishino said late Wednesday afternoon. “I can’t tell you anything because it’s a personnel issue.”
Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Steve Rose had little additional information to give.
“I really can’t comment because it’s a pending investigation,” Rose said. “We have to protect the privacy of everyone concerned including our employee and the student.”
He did say the district will cooperate with the police investigation and take action if necessary. Rose also would not comment on whether the district planned to start its own investigation into the allegations.
