Longtime Football Administrative Assistant Patty Dorfer to Retire After 26 Years

HARRISONBURG, Va. – Patty Dorfer, who has spent the past 26 years serving James Madison football as its administrative assistant, will retire later this month.

Dorfer first came to JMU in 1998 working in the university's financial aid office before moving to the football program upon Hall of Fame Coach Mickey Matthews' hire in 1999.

"After 26 incredible years with JMU football, it's time for me to step off the field," Dorfer said. "The utmost gratitude to Coach Matthews for taking a chance on me all those years ago, along with the continuous support of my husband Dan and son Jared through every milestone with its ups and downs. It's been an absolute honor to work alongside such an exceptional group of student-athletes, coaches and staff as I watched their dreams come true through these halls. I'll always treasure the memories, the relationships and the pride of being part of the JMU family. Thank you for making this journey so meaningful."

Over the course of her career with the Dukes, Dorfer has worked with five head coaches, hundreds of assistant coaches, an average of over 100 student-athletes per season and countless managers and support staff members.

She's been with JMU for its two Division I national championships in 2004 and 2016, nine conference championships, 14 FCS playoff appearances and three ESPN College GameDay visits while also being part of the program's reclassification to the Football Bowl Subdivision, which began in 2022.

Since moving up to the FBS, JMU has finished atop the Sun Belt Conference East division twice (2022, 2023), played in the 2023 Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl for its first bowl appearance and won the 2024 Boca Raton Bowl this past December for its inaugural FBS bowl title.

With the Boca Raton Bowl being Dorfer's final game on staff, she leaves the program forever a champion.

Dorfer's last day with JMU football will be July 25.

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