MARK POTTER
Newman men’s head basketball coach Mark Potter got his 200th win on Saturday night against York College in Wichita. Potter’s been the face of the Jets since the school resurrected its program 11 years ago, and he was a stud basketball and baseball player there in the mid-1980s (ed. note: any pictures from this era will go directly up on this blog)
Congratulations to Coach Potter, here’s the link to KSN’s Mark Davidson breaking down the game for you:
http://www.ksn.com/sports/36113519.html
And here’s the release from Newman SID Brian Petrotta, who is always on top of things:
POTTER WINS 200TH AS JETS FLY BY YORK, 119-68
Wichita, Kan. – Newman University men’s basketball head coach Mark Potter recorded his 200th career victory after the Jets routed York College, 119-68 Saturday evening at Fugate Gymnasium. Potter is in just his 11th season and Newman is the only school at which he has coached collegiately.
Newman (5-5) left no doubt as to the outcome, scoring the first seven points of the game and taking a 61-30 lead into halftime. The Jets followed it up with 58 points in the second half for their largest margin of victory and highest point total since making the move to Division II.
The Jets shot 58% for the game, including 62.8% in the first half, while out-rebounding York (0-11), 51-25. Every Jet that entered the game scored at least four points, with Camilo Londono and Stephen Williams sharing the team lead with 16. Williams also dished out nine assists and scooped five steals. Jarvis Jackson was the top rebounder with nine boards.
Potter now owns a career record of 200-117 (.631). He graduated from Newman in 1986 after starring for both the basketball and baseball teams. Potter made his mark as a coach locally with Kapaun Mt. Carmel, Cheney High School, and Wichita South High School. As a prep coach, Potter recorded 137 wins in 11 years and led his teams to four state tournament appearances.
In 1998, Potter revived the Newman basketball program after an 11-year hiatus. In just his second year at the helm he took the Jets to the NAIA National Tournament. Newman would make two more visits to the National Tournament before beginning the move to NCAA Division II in 2006-07.
Coach Potter will have a to wait a bit before kicking off the countdown to No. 300 as Newman does not return to the hardwood until Jan. 5, 2009 when they take on Tabor College at home. Game time is set for 8 p.m.