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35 °F Forecast | Road Cams Thursday, December 16, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend December 2, 2004 Potter to step aside at South Affable soccer coach cites desire to watch his boys play soccer in college By DON HUNT Mail Tribune Dave Potter, who has left an indelible mark on South Medford High soccer for the past 13 years, announced Wednesday he is stepping aside as the head coach of the Panther boys team so that he can spend more time watching his sons play college soccer. Potter, 55, has won eight Southern Oregon Conference championships — four with the South Medford girls between 1992-97 and four more with the boys since taking over that program in 1998. Four of his teams advanced to the Class 4A state semifinals and his 2003 boys squad claimed the state title. "I’ve got one boy (Daniel) playing college soccer at George Fox and another (Kevin) who will very likely be playing (at the college level) next fall," Potter said. "The time has come for me to dedicate my time watching them play." Advertisement Potter isn’t abandoning the South Medford program, however. He hopes to be involved in naming his successor and plans to be a volunteer assistant with the Panther boys next season. "My plan is to stay very involved," he said. "People who know me know how much I love coaching soccer. If the season were to start up tomorrow I’d be the first one on the field with the balls." Potter has been instrumental in developing youth teams with the Rogue Valley Soccer Club since 1982 and served as the RVSC’s head coach from 1990-2002. He was a visionary in developing many of the club’s methods and tactics, such as reducing the standard 11 versus 11 formats to 5 v. 5, 4 v. 4 and 3 v. 3 at the younger ages. Potter will remain active with the RVSC, helping to develop a Southern Oregon Olympic Development program next year. He’ll also continue to give individual lessons and put on numerous camps and clinics. "What I’m doing is stepping back as far as the high school team is concerned, but I’m not stepping aside with the rest of this," Potter said. In any capacity, South Medford athletic director Dennis Murphy said he was sorry to lose Potter as one of his head coaches. "From our standpoint, we’re all saddened by the fact he’s chosen to do this, but we thoroughly understand," Murphy said. "At the same time, we’re extremely grateful for the time, energy and effort he put into both the boys and girls soccer programs at our school." "Dave’s teams are well-coached, well-skilled, good sports and they compete hard — all the things you would hope young kids would be taught," Murphy added. "I don’t know if there’s a better teacher than Dave Potter." Potter, a third-grade teacher at Abraham Lincoln Elementary School, said that while he’s proud of his team’s accomplishments on the field, he’s equally proud of their achievements in the classroom. Three of his teams led the Class 4A soccer ranks in grade point average and his 2003 boys squad became the first team to ever win a state title and finish first in GPA. "That brought tears to my eyes," he said. Murphy said South Medford hasn’t set a timetable on hiring a new coach, adding that the process won’t begin until after the holidays. Reach reporter Don Hunt at 776-4469, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities