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Roger Potter
American basketball coach From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Roger David Potter (October 5, 1907 – June 8, 1982) was an American professional basketball coach. He was the first head coach of the Tri-Cities Blackhawks (now the Atlanta Hawks) in the National Basketball Association (NBA) during the 1949–50 season. Potter accumulated a 1–4 record until his replacement by Red Auerbach.
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Early life
Potter was born on October 5, 1907, in Albany, Illinois.[1] His father was a Methodist minister and Potter moved frequently as a child due to his father's work.[2] Potter's family settled in Champaign, Illinois, when he was aged 11 after his father's death.[2] Potter attended the University of Illinois where he participated in basketball, football and track.[3]
Coaching career
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Potter was hired as an assistant coach for the basketball, football and track teams at Moline High School under head coach George Senneff in 1930.[1] He took over as head coach of the basketball team after Senneff's retirement in 1940.[1] Potter's coaching career was interrupted when he served two years as a naval gunnery officer on a merchant marine supply ship during World War II and he returned in 1946.[1] Potter resigned as head coach in 1948 with a record of 99–55.[4] He worked for Dairy Queen for a year in Worcester, Massachusetts.[1] Potter returned to Moline to enter the insurance and real estate business while he also worked as a basketball columnist for The Dispatch.[4]
On February 14, 1949, Potter was announced as head coach of the Tri-Cities Blackhawks of the National Basketball League (NBL).[3] He replaced player-coach Bobby McDermott in a move that "came as a surprise."[3] Potter led the Blackhawks to a 12–7 record during the 1948–49 season.[1] The Blackhawks moved to the newly-formed National Basketball Association (NBA) for the 1949–50 season. On November 9, 1949, Potter had accumulated a 1–4 record when he was dismissed as head coach and replaced by Red Auerbach.[5]
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Later life
Potter returned to the insurance business after his coaching career ended.[2] He was elected to the school board, served a term as Republican assistant township supervisor and was on the church board of the First United Methodist Church in Moline.[2] Potter was hired by John Deere Junior High School to teach general business in 1961.[2] He became the Moline High School athletic director in 1966 and remained in that position until his retirement in 1973.[2]
Personal life
Potter married Rita Wylie in 1931 in Rock Falls, Illinois.[1] He had one son.[2]
Potter died on June 8, 1982, in the Moline Public Hospital.[1] He had a long illness of cancer.[2]
References
External links
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