June 9th - CR Xavier's Jim Potts
In 2014, Jim Potts was coaching the Cedar Rapids Xavier freshmen girls basketball program when he was approached with an opportunity.
"The tennis coaching job came open. Out of the blue, our AD asked me if I will consider taking it," says Potts. "So I thought a little bit about it and so yeah, sure, I'll try it."
Just a recreational tennis player himself, Potts took over a program with relatively no pedigree.
"Nobody really knew much about Xavier tennis, we really weren't on the map per se. Kind of gradually got some more interest in the program and kind of went from there," he says.
In just a few short years, the Saints went from unknown to number one in 2017.
"It was pretty incredible, pretty incredible feeling," says Potts.
"I saw that team that year before when I came in and they just looked like a really good tea. I came in here and trying to do my best to further what the team was before them," says senior Brady Horstmann.
Ever since, they've been a perennial tennis power.
"This program has just been the team," added Horstmann. "Team wise we've been really strong our bond with one another has been really strong and the coaches too. That bond carries over."
This season, not only did Xavier win its third-straight team title but it also captured the state's triple crown.
The Saints won the singles, doubles and team titles, becoming just the 10th team in state history to do so.
"I was just hungry ya title and coach helped us get there," says senior Declan Coe.
"It's an incredible feeling to tell you the truth," adds Potts. "It's something that I thought we had a remote chance of doing this year. But until you actually do it, it's just an incredible feeling."
The secret to the success, a positive mindset.
"He takes it easy. He doesn't take anything like too seriously. It just helps us play better honestly," says Coe.
Because along the way, Potts hasn't been focused on just building the program, but building people too.
And whether it's coaching basketball or tennis, Potts has found pleasure in the process.
"Probably one of the better decisions I made doing this, coaching kids and it's just a great feeling."
