Pat Dawson was promoted to the title of defensive coordinator after Paul Price was elevated to head coach in January 2016.

Previously, Dawson was responsible for coaching Concord's defensive line and will continue to coach the defensive line in addition to be the defensive coordinator.
 
Dawson has helped the Mountain Lions to a 42-26 record since joining the Concord program.
 
Since joining the Concord program prior to the 2011 season, Dawson has coached 20 all-conference honorees in Silas Agyemang (2011, 2012, 2014), Josh Miller (2011, 2012), Keith Ferguson (2013,2014), Spenser Jordan (2012), Ervin Moore (2013, 2014, 2015), Will Greathouse (2014), Darryl Johnson (2014) and Anthony Pyle (2013) and Brandon Taylor (2015) and Darryl Johnson (2016). Concord’s defensive lineman have accounted for 1,422 tackles, 261.5 tackles for loss, 94.5 sacks, 14 fumble recoveries and 15 forced fumbles under Dawson.

Just like every other year, Dawson's unit proved superb in 2015 as Moore was named Second Team All-MEC finishing with 68 tackles, 11 tackles for loss and five sacks. Dawson coached Moore to be one of the best pass rusher in the region during his four years at Concord. In 2015, CU finished second in the Mountain East in rushing yards allowed per game (115.6) and was fifth in sacks (20) and forced 15 fumbles.

After a stellar 2013 campaign, the Concord defensive lineman put up what may have been a better 2014 season under Dawson's tutelage. Dawson's group combined for 23 of Concord's 32 sacks. Ervin Moore had six sacks, which was sixth in the Mountain East Conference. Anthony Pyle had five quarterback takedowns which was 10th in the league. 

The defensive line set the table for Concord holding its opposition to less than 100 yards in seven games in 2014. The Mountain Lions' defensive line forced six fumbles including a career-high three from Keith Ferguson.

Silas Agyemang, Ferguson and Moore all earned all-conference accolades once again while Will Greathouse earned All-MEC for the first time in his career with Dawson's guidance. Additionally, Moore moved into second place on the Concord's all-time sack list.

With Dawson's coaching the Maroon and Gray blocked 10 kicks this season, which was tops in the nation among all Division II school. Perhaps the biggest block for the Mountain Lions came in the MEC Championship Game in overtime against Shepherd that helped CU claim the title.

Last season was arguably Dawson’s finest job to date; three defensive lineman earned All-Mountain East Conference honors as the unit went on to compile 271 tackles, 58 tackles for loss, 15 sacks, three fumble recoveries and three forced fumbles. The group’s tackle, TFL, forced fumbles and fumble recovery totals were the highest of any Dawson led unit over the least three seasons. Moore paced the group by ranking seventh in the MEC in sacks, seventh in TFL and eighth in forced fumbles.
 
In 2012, Dawson oversaw a defensive line that helped Concord rank 14th in the nation in total defense, 11th in scoring defense and seventh in passing defense. CU also posted the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference’s fifth-best run defense. Dawson helped guide two defensive lineman, Josh Miller and Spenser Jordan, to all-conference honors. A third lineman, Silas Agyemang, was on pace to be one of the best players in the WVIAC before suffering a season-ending injury midway through the year.

In his first season at Concord in 2011 Dawson coached two players, Miller and Agyemang, who earned All-WVIAC accolades.

Prior to coming to Concord, Dawson served as an assistant coach at Greensburg Central Catholic, his high school alma mater in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, for the 2009 and 2010 seasons. He helped the Centurion’s to the school’s first Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League championship in 2009.
 
Before entering the coaching profession, Dawson was a four-year letterman the University of Toledo on the Rocket’s offensive line. He graduated from Toledo in 2008 with a degree in Sports Management. Dawson was a part of 19 wins in college including a 45-13 victory in the 2005 GMAC Bowl against the University of Texas at El Paso (UTEP).
 
As a prep standout, Dawson was named to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette "Fabulous 22" and "Finest 25”. He was a first team all-state, all-conference and all-county athlete as a senior.