Lu'Cye Patterson
Sophomore Guard / Minneapolis, Minnesota
Sophomore Lu'Cye Patterson has put together three of his best performances in a 49er jersey since beginning his role as Charlotte Sixth Man against Western Kentucky last Thursday evening.
The Minneapolis, Minnesota native is averaging 25 minutes per night off the bench and has recorded zero turnovers in the three collective contests, while averaging 12.6 points and just over three rebounds per contest.
In Thursday's victory over league heavyweights North Texas, Patterson scored a game-high 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting, while scoring 15 of his points in the second half and 12 of CLT's final 21 points to help the Niners both re-take the lead and seal the win in the closing minutes.
Patterson ranks third on the team in scoring with 9.5 points per game and leads the team and ranks 11th in the league in assists, averaging 3.04 assists per game.
He also ranks second Conference USA in assist/turnover ratio with a stellar mark of 2.18.
Men's Head Coach Ron Sanchez
FIFTH SEASON
The last four years under Coach Sanchez, the 49ers have signed the top-ranked recruiting class in Conference USA. In 2020, Sanchez was a finalist for the Ben Jobe National Coach of the Year Award, which is presented annually to the top minority coach at the Division I level by CollegeInsider.com.
COACHING CAREER AT CHARLOTTE
In his first season with the 49ers (2018-19), Charlotte limited their opponents to an average of 68.7 points per game which is over an 11-points improvement from the previous season. Jon Davis earned second-team NABC All-District and All-Conference USA honors while scoring his 2,000th career point.
In his second season at Charlotte (2019-20), the 49ers won 16 games, which was the most wins by the 49ers since 2014, while recording 10 Conference USA wins, which was the most league wins by the Niners since 2006. The 49ers won a school-record 13 games in Halton Arena. The Niners finished fourth in Conference USA after being picked twelfth in the preseason coaches’ poll. Four Charlotte players earned Conference USA honors including Jahmir Young capturing the league’s Freshman of the Year award. The Niners finished Top 50 in the nation in scoring defense after limiting their opponents to a school-record 64.7 points per game. For the first time in the program's history, Charlotte earned the NABC Team Academic Excellence Award.
In year three, the Niners pushed through a COVID-19 affected season that saw a number of contests postponed throughout the year. Despite a tough end to the season, a young roster mixed with a third year of great recruiting of both freshman and transfers leaves Sanchez with plenty of fire power entering year four in the Queen City.
Year four saw the 49ers make an eight win improvement from 2020-21, winning 17 games, marking the most for the 49ers since 2013-14. In Conference USA play, Charlotte earned 10 victories--marking the second time since 2006 the program earned double-figure league victories--for the second time under Sanchez. The Niners also greatly improved their performances away from home, earning six total road wins and four wins away from home in conference action. CLT's six road wins were the most since 2011-12 and Charlotte's four in conference play were the most since 2009-10 when CLT was still in the Atlantic 10.
Sanchez was also integral in the development of 2021 Conference USA Freshman of the Year, Aly Khalifa, marking CLT's second league Freshman of the Year in three seasons, which was the first time the program had ever done so.
PREVIOUS COACHING EXPERIENCE
Prior to coming to Charlotte, Sanchez was an integral part of three-time National Coach of the Year Tony Bennett’s staff for 12 years (2006-18) as they built Washington State and Virginia into national powers during their tenures.
Prior to becoming an assistant coach at Washington State, he spent three seasons as the program’s director of basketball operations from 2003-06. Prior to those three years, he spent two seasons as a volunteer assistant coach at the University of Indiana while in graduate school During his two seasons at Indiana, the Hoosiers reached the NCAA Tournament Championship game in 2002.
Sanchez began his coaching career as an assistant coach at his alma mater, SUNY Oneonta, for the 1998-99 season. Then, he was the associate head coach at Delhi College (N.Y.) for two years (1999-01). In the 2000-01 season, Delhi won 31 games, captured the Region III championship and finished fourth in the National Junior College Athletic Association Championship Tournament.
PLAYING CAREER
Sanchez starred on the basketball team at SUNY Oneonta for four years. He earned State University of New York Athletic Conference Player of the Year and Eastern College Athletic Conference Championship Most Valuable Player honors and was a two-time All-Conference selection during his career. As a senior, he scored 621 points while leading the Red Dragons to the ECAC Upstate New York title. In his career, Sanchez scored 1,264 points and grabbed 518 rebounds. In 2007, Sanchez was inducted into the SUNY Oneonta Athletic Hall of Fame.
EDUCATION
In 1997, Sanchez graduated from SUNY Oneonta with a bachelor’s degree in education. Sanchez earned a master’s degree in athletic administration/sports management from the University of Indiana in 2002.
In 2019, he was recognized by SUNY Oneonta with the Alumni of Distinction Award.
FAMILY
Sanchez and his wife, Tara, have a son, Raelon, and a daughter, Rose Marie.