| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 29, 1936 Jacksonville, Florida, US |
| Died | September 28, 2024 (aged 87) LaGrange, Georgia, US |
| Playing career | |
| 1957 | South Georgia JC |
| 1959 | Presbyterian |
| Position | Halfback |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1965–1969 | Toccoa HS (GA) |
| 1971 | Norcross HS (GA) |
| 1972–1973 | Cherokee HS (GA) |
| 1974–1979 | Western Carolina (assistant) |
| 1981–1984 | West Georgia |
| 1985–1994 | Hart County HS (GA) |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 28–15 (college) 137–60–3 (high school) |
| Tournaments | 3–1(NCAA D-III playoffs) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 1 NCAA Division III (1982) | |
Bobby Carl Pate (November 29, 1936 – September 28, 2024) was an American football player and coach. He played college football at South Georgia State College under then-head coach Bobby Bowden before finishing his career at Presbyterian College in Clinton, South Carolina.[1] He was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the 1960 NFL draft, as well as by the Boston Patriots in the 1960 American Football League draft.[2]
Pate began his coaching career at several Georgia high schools.[3] He entered the college football ranks as an assistant coach at Western Carolina University from 1974 to 1979.[4]
His first collegiate head coaching job came at the University of West Georgia, where he served from 1981 to 1984.[5] He led West Georgia to the 1982 NCAA Division III National Championship.[6]
Pate was married to Donna Dejarnette Howe from 1961 until her death on 24 May 2024. He died on 28 September 2024 at LaGrange Heritage Senior Living in LaGrange.[7]
Head coaching record
College
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Georgia Braves (NCAA Division III independent) (1981–1982) | |||||||||
| 1981 | West Georgia | 9–1 | L NCAA Division III Quarterfinal | ||||||
| 1982 | West Georgia | 12–0 | W NCAA Division III Championship | ||||||
| West Georgia Braves (Gulf South Conference) (1983–1984) | |||||||||
| 1983 | West Georgia | 4–6 | 1–5 | 9th | |||||
| 1984 | West Georgia | 3–8 | 1–7 | 9th | |||||
| West Georgia: | 28–15 | 2–12 | |||||||
| Total: | 28–15 | ||||||||
| National championship Conference title Conference division title or championship game berth | |||||||||
References
- ^ Hyatt, Richard (August 25, 2015). "If It Feels Like Leather, Shoot It". Lulu.com. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
- ^ "Bobby Pate". Pro Football Archives. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
- ^ "Bobby Pate". Georgia High School Football Historians Association. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
- ^ "Football Media Guide". Western Carolina Catamounts football. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
- ^ "West Georgia College football coach Bobby Pate has resigned". United Press International. January 29, 1985. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
- ^ "Championship History". West Georgia Wolves. Retrieved December 30, 2018.
- ^ "Obituary". Strickland Funeral Home-Hartwell. September 28, 2024. Retrieved July 23, 2025.
