Matt Potter - Wow what a surprise the OU Women’s soccer team got this year with the departure of Associate Head Coach Graeme Abel to join the US Women’s National Team staff. He had recruited most of these student athletes, and while the players were excited for his much deserved promotion, they were also justifiably sad to see him go. He is a warm and caring coach who connects on a personal level with his players. What this team got in exchange unexpectedly, though, was a full-dose of Matt Potter.
Quickly, a pattern of behavior became apparent… One of pitting selected players against others whom Potter singles out. Athletes being encouraged to inform on teammates, even though the written team code dictates taking care of it amongst the young women. Of allowing those core players to make disciplinary decisions on peers (with his direction), and then working together to ostracize and eliminate those targeted. And most recently, a history of Potter holding ‘discussions’ with individual players where he demonstrates neither interest in hearing the athletes thoughts nor even learning the truth. Rather he uses these opportunities to ‘bully’ the player on what they did ‘wrong’ (he’s always right), and how the team would be better served if they were not around. Potter is hostile on the field, hostile when asked about student-athlete priorities, and passive-aggressive hostile in responding to questions on non-soccer related University activities.
By midpoint of the most recent Fall season, Matt Potter had already lost 4 athletes from his team, with more planning to depart at year end. There are also nine players who’ve left the program to pursue playing elsewhere in the short time he’s been in Norman. Not much else need be said. And while there should be little doubt that athletes, who’ve worked their entire lives to reach this level of competition, would find it incredibly hard to walk away from a sport they love, if present company is an indicator, the tradeoff of no Matt Potter makes it sadly palatable.
Quickly, a pattern of behavior became apparent… One of pitting selected players against others whom Potter singles out. Athletes being encouraged to inform on teammates, even though the written team code dictates taking care of it amongst the young women. Of allowing those core players to make disciplinary decisions on peers (with his direction), and then working together to ostracize and eliminate those targeted. And most recently, a history of Potter holding ‘discussions’ with individual players where he demonstrates neither interest in hearing the athletes thoughts nor even learning the truth. Rather he uses these opportunities to ‘bully’ the player on what they did ‘wrong’ (he’s always right), and how the team would be better served if they were not around. Potter is hostile on the field, hostile when asked about student-athlete priorities, and passive-aggressive hostile in responding to questions on non-soccer related University activities.
By midpoint of the most recent Fall season, Matt Potter had already lost 4 athletes from his team, with more planning to depart at year end. There are also nine players who’ve left the program to pursue playing elsewhere in the short time he’s been in Norman. Not much else need be said. And while there should be little doubt that athletes, who’ve worked their entire lives to reach this level of competition, would find it incredibly hard to walk away from a sport they love, if present company is an indicator, the tradeoff of no Matt Potter makes it sadly palatable.