Matt Potter Leaves WSU Soccer For Oklahoma
by Jeff Nusser on Dec 27, 2011 12:39 PM PST
in WSU Athletics
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I imagine the women's soccer coach leaving for the same position at another school isn't news on most of SB Nation's college sites, but when that coach has taken the program to NCAA tournaments in three of four years -- at a school that has had precious little postseason success in most sports -- it causes even casual fans to take notice.
So it is that Matt Potter leaving WSU for Oklahoma is news today.
Potter led the Cougars to an 88-69-22 record in nine seasons at WSU, including three NCAA tournament appearances, all in the last four years. This season's run ended with a loss to Virginia in the second round.
Potter didn't give a specific reason for leaving WSU, but did say the following in the news release from Oklahoma:
"I want to express my sincere gratitude to my former athletic director, Jim Sterk, and his staff at Washington State. I will be forever grateful for the coaching opportunity and faith he showed in me. Also, I would not be here if it were not for all the players and staff who I have had the privilege of working with. I will miss the people behind the scenes and the town of Pullman, which we called ‘home’ for almost nine years. I will always cherish the memories."
Whatever Potter's reason, the move is a little curious in that next year's team could potentially be the best in school history; the Cougars' top three goal and point scorers -- Jocelyn Jeffers (sophomore to be), Brandi Vega (senior) and Eileen Maes (junior) -- all return, as does goal keeper Gurveen Clair (sophomore). Chances are very good Potter could have parlayed his success into another job just as easily next year.
Or maybe Potter just felt comfortable making the move now because the cupboard stocked for the next coach. And nine years is a long time for any coach to spend in one spot.
If Bill Moos decides to turn to the current staff, recruiting coordinator Jason Goodson would seem to be the most likely candidate. Although he has been under Potter for the last four years and oversaw the recruitment of the outstanding young talent on the team, he has no collegiate head coaching experience. Knowing Moos' M.O. the way we do, I'd be surprised if he doesn't go outside the university for a replacement.
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Use some of those Pac 12 dollars
and hire Brian Schmetzer.
(Joking. Sort of.)
I miss *REAL* Four Loko
by B-Lot tailgater on Dec 27, 2011 12:46 PM PST reply actions
Stop to coaches leaving?
or mosaic Cougar logos?
#CougHarmonyOnTwitter #teamnopants
by TiltingRight on Dec 27, 2011 3:01 PM PST up reply actions
Ah.
9 years is hardly stepping stone territory.
Just sayin.
#CougHarmonyOnTwitter #teamnopants
by TiltingRight on Dec 27, 2011 3:55 PM PST up reply actions
Okay geez, 9 years isn't a stepping stone, it was a bridge,
but he did move on and Bill Moos doesn’t want good coaches leaving. He wants it to be a destination. Maybe Moos thought he could get a better coach, that is why he let him move on.
“This place deserves big name people, it should be a destination, not a stepping stone.”
CougCenter OG since 9/2/2008 | @THESoCalCoug
and that is Moos' vision
but first we need to start winning football games. Getting butts in seats. Opening wallets etc.
I think we are on the verge of all of the above, but it will take a few years to trickle down to the olympic sports.
It is not the size of the gift that demonstrate support…it’s the action of joining.
Apparently Potter didn't see Moos's charts and graphs of his vision.
Moos has to have a pie chart.
CougCenter OG since 9/2/2008 | @THESoCalCoug
Potter probably did see the charts
and compared them to a OU’s soccer complex.
It is not the size of the gift that demonstrate support…it’s the action of joining.
not sure what took my so long to add this
It is not the size of the gift that demonstrate support…it’s the action of joining.
Wonder if he asked for a raise
and was told – sorry, but I just dropped 4 mil on football. No mention of Moos in his farewell either… not complaining, or dis’n Moos… just noticing the unmentioned in the statement.
If you can't Go Cougs... don't go.
I suspect there was a conflict with Moos and Potter
because thanking your old boss and omitting your current boss is making a statement in my opinion.
The blood of "The Five" cries for justice.
Funny thing is if he was unhappy about football or how other sports are treated compared to football,
he is now going to Oklahoma and will get a real experience with that.
CougCenter OG since 9/2/2008 | @THESoCalCoug
Have you seen OU's soccer complex?
Lets just say they are not being ignored by the OU AD.
I miss *REAL* Four Loko
by B-Lot tailgater on Dec 27, 2011 3:57 PM PST up reply actions
A soccer complex that was paid for by...
the football team.
I'm here to kick ass and chew bubble gum, and I'm all out of bubble gum.
I sure they do, but I am also sure they have more rabid football fans who don't care about soccer.
And no I don’t go researching D1 soccer complexes, but I am sure OU football helped pay for that complex not soccer.
CougCenter OG since 9/2/2008 | @THESoCalCoug
If we were winning like OU in football
I am sure Moos wouldn’t be ignoring the soccer complex.
CougCenter OG since 9/2/2008 | @THESoCalCoug
I don't buy that
Sterk gave a guy with very little experience a chance to be a HC at a D1 / Pac 10(12) school. Without that chance where would he be?
It is not the size of the gift that demonstrate support…it’s the action of joining.
potter or tony bennett?
by BigWood! on Dec 27, 2011 4:09 PM PST via Android app up reply actions 1 recs
I hate you
It is not the size of the gift that demonstrate support…it’s the action of joining.
by woolybugger on Dec 27, 2011 4:22 PM PST up reply actions 3 recs
Funny, but not
I felt the same sense of despair that I did when Tony left.
Nooooooooooooo!
In Moos we trust, but I trust him a lot more in football than I do footie. Find me a good one Bill!
(and install those lights please)
by Aaron Whiteman on Dec 27, 2011 7:59 PM PST up reply actions
I tend to agree with you.
Moos blathered on for what seemed like 20 min. on Bud Nameck’s show right before the NCAA’s on how great Potter was and the improvements they hope to make to the soccer field (lights for night games) etc.
Thats the first thing I thought also
Thanking the old AD seemed like a personal shot at Moos. Either a money issue or a principal issue with how Moos is going to focus on football to make money.
No one focuses on Women's soccer to make money
I miss *REAL* Four Loko
by B-Lot tailgater on Dec 27, 2011 7:58 PM PST up reply actions
Yep, I know
Thats why I said it was a principal issue. People get jealous that they are not getting all the funding over sports like football.
Hate to use a UW quote on here
When someone (a parent of either a volleyball player or rower) at UW asked Scott Woodward how they could best support their kid’s sport, he said, “Buy football season tickets.”
I understand that a lot of the coaches of the sports that use football and men’s basketball as their welfare can get upset at the fact that they are not treated as equals to the football and men’s basketball coaches, but that’s the way it is. If not for football and men’s basketball, none of those other coaches would have a job. It doesn’t mean we shouldn’t support all of our varsity sports, but they need to realize that they will never be viewed on the same level.
I'm here to kick ass and chew bubble gum, and I'm all out of bubble gum.
Woodward is an idiot
The best way to support non-revenue sports is to cut a check directly to said non-revenue sport.
Any soccer coach in the country that doesn’t understand they will play second or third fiddle to football is going to be upset.
I have no issue with Potter leaving for OU. We are several years away from building up facilities to complete with places like OU. Especially for non-revenue sports
It is not the size of the gift that demonstrate support…it’s the action of joining.
Not lookin good for Goodson
Even if Goodson did an awesome job at wsu, is more than capable, moos has shown in other non rev sports that he likes HC experience when choosing a new coach…. Even if that HC experience is way under the PAC 12 level…. In many respects I get that but I think he misses out on some awesome new coaching talent.
Sometimes you just need a change of scenery in life...
This may be the case with Potter, I don’t know for sure.
Too bad he has to go to Oklahoma though.
How did the last soccer coach that left (for Arizona) end up doing?
I ask that because I believe girl’s/women’s soccer is pretty strong in the Pac NW…which always helps.
by westsidecougar1 on Dec 27, 2011 9:12 PM PST reply actions
The talent level in this region is consistently pretty high
I miss *REAL* Four Loko
by B-Lot tailgater on Dec 28, 2011 7:31 AM PST up reply actions
To add to that
The USWNT has been littered with players from WA over the years.
I miss *REAL* Four Loko
by B-Lot tailgater on Dec 28, 2011 7:31 AM PST up reply actions
oops
http://forum.goazcats.com/showthread.php?t=94822
I feel like Charlie Brown trying to kick the football. Ugh
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