| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1907-10-05)October 5, 1907 Albany, Illinois, U.S. |
| Died | June 8, 1982(1982-06-08) (aged 74) Moline, Illinois, U.S. |
| Career information | |
| College | Illinois |
| Coaching career | 1930–1949 |
| Career history | |
Coaching | |
| 1930–1940 | Moline HS (assistant) |
| 1940–1944, 1946–1948 | Moline HS (assistant) |
| 1949 | Tri-Cities Blackhawks |
| Career coaching record | |
| NBA | 1–4 (.200) |
| Record at Basketball Reference | |
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.
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
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]
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]
Head coaching record
| Regular season | G | Games coached | W | Games won | L | Games lost | W–L % | Win–loss % |
| Playoffs | PG | Playoff games | PW | Playoff wins | PL | Playoff losses | PW–L % | Playoff win–loss % |
| Team | Year | G | W | L | W–L% | Finish | PG | PW | PL | PW–L% | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tri-Cities | 1949–50 | 5 | 1 | 4 | .200 | (replaced) | — | — | — | — | — |
Source[6]
References
- "Roger Potter". The Rock Island Argus. June 9, 1982. p. 6. Retrieved June 24, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Potter, 74, cage coach, dies". The Dispatch. June 8, 1982. p. 5. Retrieved June 24, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Roger Potter, Former Moline Prep Mentor, Is Named Coach Of Tri-City Blackhawk Cagers". The Daily Times. February 14, 1949. p. 1. Retrieved June 24, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- O'Donnell, John (February 14, 1949). "Roger Potter Named Coach of Tri-City Pro Team". Quad-City Times. p. 10. Retrieved June 24, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- Jurgens, Jerry (November 10, 1949). "Red Auerbach Replaces Roger Potter as Coach of Blackhawks". The Daily Times. p. 31. Retrieved June 24, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- "Roger Potter NBA Coaching Record". Basketball Reference. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 9, 2025.