Trinity’s intramural field to be named after IM Director Jim Potter

The Trinity University Intramural Field—which is located in the campus outdoor recreation area and used throughout the year for intramurals, recreation sports, club sports, and as a practice site for varsity sports teams—is to be named in honor of longtime intramural director Jim Potter. “Coach” Potter served as Trinity’s Director of Intramurals for 33 years, retiring in 2000. In that time, he built a nationally-admired intramural program and was also an associate professor in physical education and athletics. He earned a Bachelor of Science from Trinity in 1963, and a Master of Education in 1967. The dedication ceremony will be held at 5:30pm on Friday, August 25 at the IM Field. The event is open to all alumni, friends, and family.

Jim built Trinity’s intramural program into one of the finest in the nation. Each year, he assembled a team of students to help administer the IM program, and his nurturing leadership style allowed the program to thrive and grow. “He expected us to make decisions using critical thinking, an egalitarian outlook, respect for the team and those we served, and working together with the staff,” says George Brown ’82, a former IM staff leader and now Assistant Vice Provost and Director of Recreation and Wellness at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.

Jim is a mentor and friend to generations of Trinity students, inspiring some of his staff leaders to go onto work in campus recreation. “The environment that he created by putting students at the center of the work is still a principle I use in my work today,” says Dion Wade ’02, Director of University Recreation at Seattle University. “The care for students and the ability to let them lead made many people better at their chosen professions.”

Under Jim’s leadership, the university established the Trinity Outdoor Recreation Program, which provides students with camping, hiking, backpacking, and other adventure opportunities. “As an outdoor girl from Idaho, Coach Potter gave me a home at Trinity,” says Erin Rausch ’01, former O-Rec student leader. “As a student he trusted me and let me make mistakes. It is in those experiences that I learned the most.”

Jim received National Service Awards from NIRSA: Leaders in Collegiate Recreation in 1984, 1989, 1992, and 2002. He was the NIRSA Texas State Director from 1975-1976, and Regional Vice President from 1977-1978. He was also the editor of the Flag and Touch Football Rules and Officials Manual from 1983-1998.

An outstanding student-athlete at Trinity, Jim played basketball for four years and led the Tigers in scoring in 1962. He was also an exemplary baseball player for three years and is now a regular attendee at Trinity’s baseball games; his son-in-law Tim Scannell is the Tiger Baseball head coach. Jim often watches Tiger baseball with his wife Mary Alice ’62 and daughter Christa ’90. Christa is married to Coach Scannell.

A veteran football official, Jim was a member of the Southwest Football Officials Association. He officiated the Southwest Conference (now Big 12 Conference) and Lone Star Conference games for 16 years from 1971-1980. He was also the timer for the Alamo Bowl football game in San Antonio for many years and traveled to Germany from 1978-1984, in 1987, and in 1991 to conduct officials clinics for the U.S. Army.

Trinity honored Jim as an Outstanding Professor in 1971. A loyal Trinity alumnus, the Alumni Association presented him with the “Spirit of Trinity Award” in 2007 for his years of exceptional service to the university and the community. He was inducted into the Trinity University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2003.

“I can think of no one more deserving of a Trinity honor than Jim Potter,” says John Collins ’79, a former student IM leader. “Like so many of us lucky enough to have had him touch our lives, we consider Coach Potter family. His decades on campus contributed immeasurably to Trinity’s unique fiber and campus spirit still seen today.”