Grand Rapids Catholic Central hires a new basketball coach
The Grand Rapids Catholic Central basketball team poses after a win on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026. (Photo | Lenny Padilla).
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - Grand Rapids Catholic Central High School has hired a new boys basketball coach.
The school announced on Tuesday, May 5, that Jeff Patin will take over the program. Patin has more than 25 years of coaching experience in West Michigan.
He has coached the high school level at Comstock Park, Kenowa Hills and most recently Cedar Springs. He also was an assistant coach at Aquinas College for two years.
“We are thrilled to welcome Jeff Patin to Catholic Central,” said Catholic Central Athletic Director Mike Jacob in a news release. “Jeff is a program builder in every sense of the word. His ability to develop young men, establish a strong culture, and compete at a high level makes him the right leader for our basketball program.”
Chris Pearl was the school’s coach the past two years before being fired with three games left in the regular season. The school never told Pearl why he was fired and Jacob declined to discuss the subject publicly. Assistant coach Ryer Highland was the interim coach the rest of the season.
Patin is a 1990 graduate of Cedar Springs High School. He coached the Red Hawks for parts of 10 years.
“I am incredibly honored to join the Catholic Central community,” Patin in the news release. “This program has a rich tradition of excellence, and I am excited to build on that foundation. I believe deeply in using basketball as a vehicle to form young men of character, faith, and purpose. Our goal will be to compete at the highest level while representing Catholic Central with pride in everything we do.”
The Cougars basketball team had a dominant season, finishing 20-7 and winning district and regional championships.
New Grand Rapids Catholic Central boys basketball coach Jeff Patin. (Photo courtesy of Catholic Central).