Oak Park Promotes Patterson to Job as Interim Basketball Coach

Greg Patterson has replaced Nate Sims as the Oak Park High boys’ basketball coach on an interim basis after Sims resigned this week halfway through his first season.

Oak Park was winless in 10 games under Sims, 30, who said his resignation was not related to the team’s record. Sims cited financial reasons and said that he plans to play in the Australian State League in Queensland and coach club teams from March to September.

“I just need to start making more money,” he said. “We’ve got three kids and they’re starting to get bigger now. We need more money.”

Patterson, 23, who has been the junior-varsity coach at Oak Park for the past five seasons, expects to graduate from Cal State Northridge in May with a degree in English and a minor in physical education.

“I’m really looking forward to it,” he said. “I’ll graduate in May and it’d be nice if I could work this into a full-time job.”