Patrick Bates '70

Pat Bates ’70 is more than a Good Counsel alumnus, a champion wrestling coach, a teacher and mentor, a past principal, and the school’s long-standing athletic director. He represents a legacy of service to the school community that Good Counsel has been blessed with for 45 years. As he embarks on the journey of retirement, Bates reflects upon the memories, friendships, and connections he has at Our Lady of Good Counsel High School.

When he graduated in 1970, Bates received the school’s highest honor, the Brother Mark Award. Four years later, he began his career at Good Counsel as a member of the then-small faculty. Bates was a major catalyst for positive change during his time in the school’s administration. Bates served on the committee that developed the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program, a 2-year college preparatory course of studies, along with President Art Raimo and others.

In the 1990s, Bates served as an administrator, including principal, which he became again in the 2010s. “I have been fortunate to have held a different role every four or five years, to keep me fresh,” he says.“The first year I was principal, I worked along with Art Raimo to really change the educational program,” he says. In addition to the development of the IB Program was the shift to a block schedule. “It was a real change for Good Counsel at the time.”

Bates is also proud to have been part of the administration when the Blue Ribbon Commission recognized the school twice. He credits the people in the Good Counsel community with making it a wonderfully unique school.
In 1982 (and again in 2008), Bates became athletic director. In that role, he has led Good Counsel to 49 WCAC championships. He has been intertwined with the football program at Good Counsel throughout his career. “In fact, he was my freshman football coach back in 1979,” Head football coach Andy Stefanelli ’83 says. “Pat was responsible for hiring Bob Milloy and had the vision to see the positive impact a top-notch football program could bring to the Good Counsel community. Under Pat’s direction, the program was able to reach new heights and has maintained continued success to this day.”
Stefanelli adds, “The Good Counsel football program is in a better place today because of Pat’s dedication and leadership during his tenure.”

“His true legacy at Good Counsel is the impact he had on so many young people over the years,” Stefanelli says. “He has been a positive role model to young people for over 4 decades.”

Donate to the Patrick Bates ’70 Endowed Scholarship