Evan Patak

Youth and collegiate

Patak grew up in Pleasanton, California and attended Foothill High School where he played for the school's volleyball team. He was named to the First Team All-East Bay Athletic League three times, earning the title of Most Valuable Player in his senior year. He also played club volleyball for Diablo Valley Volleyball Club.

Following graduation, Patak enrolled at the University of California, Santa Barbara and played for the UC Santa Barbara Gauchos. After redshirting in 2003, he went on to play 4 seasons with the Gauchos and was named the 2004 AVCA Newcomer of the Year and a three-time All American. He also led the nation in kills in 2005.

Professional

Patak joined the professional ranks right out of college in 2007 and joined Puerto Rican-based club Playeros de San Juan in the Liga de Voleibol Superior Masculino. His stay was brief, leaving them for Aris Volleyball Club in the Greek A1 Ethniki before the end of the year. Patak returned to the Puerto Rican LVSM in 2008. According to then-manager Jorge de Jesús, he nearly rejoined his old Playeros de San Juan team, now rebranded as Mets de Guaynabo, but ultimately joined Indios de Mayagüez. Due to the 2008 Summer Olympics and his contract with the US National Team, Patak joined Indios de Mayagüez after their season had started.

The offseason saw yet another move as Patak joined Austrian-based aon hotVolleys in Fall 2008. He played with the team until January 9, 2009 when his contract was mutually terminated due to the club's financial constraints. He returned to the Greek A1 Ethniki that same month after signing with P.A.O.K. Thessaloniki V.C.. He joined Turkish club Halkbank Ankara of the Turkish Men's Volleyball League in Summer of 2009. He stayed with the club through early May 2010.

After Greece, Patak joined South Korean V-League club Incheon Korean Air Jumbos. They ended with the best regular season record in the V-League for the 2010–2011 season, but lost in the championship playoffs finals. He returned to Europe to play for Italian club Umbria Volley of the Italian Volleyball League in December 2011.

Patak landed in Puerto Rico for the third time in October 2012. He signed for Plataneros de Corozal after Dallas Soonais was lost to a shoulder injury. After a semi-finals loss that ended Plataneros de Corozal's season, Patak joined Spacer's de Toulouse in January 2013. He proved to be a huge catalyst to turn Spacer's season around, making a run in the Coupe de France but ultimately coming in second best. Despite his play, he was not brought back for a second season.

International

Patak has been a member of the full United States men's national volleyball team since 2008. He was initially a member of the US delegation for the World University Games in 2003 and 2007 earning a bronze medal in both trips. Patak was on track to also participate in the 2005 Games, but did not participate due to injury. He also joined for a six-city tour against Japan.

After leaving UC Santa Barbara, Patak's first action with the senior men's national team was in 2008 NORCECA Continental Olympic Qualifying Preliminary Matches, 2008 Four Nations Tournament, 2008 Men's Pan-American Volleyball Cup, 2008 FIVB Volleyball World League, and 2008 Volleyball America's Cup. Despite being named to the 2008 Summer Games preliminary roster, Patak missed being named to the final roster and was subsequently named an alternate. USA assistant coach Rick McLaughlin tipped Patak as having the potential to peak in 2012 for the London Games.

He was a mainstay for the United States moving forward, appearing in a number of major competitions including the 2009 Men's NORCECA Volleyball Championship, 2010 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship qualification (NORCECA), 2009 FIVB Volleyball World League, 2010 FIVB Volleyball World League, 2011 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Cup, 2011 Pan American Games, 2011 Men's NORCECA Volleyball Championship, 2011 FIVB Volleyball World League, and 2012 FIVB Volleyball World League.

Despite being regularly featured, Patak missed the final cut for the London 2012 Summer Games and was again named as an alternate.

He was named to the 2013 FIVB Volleyball World League preliminary roster, but did not appear in any matches.