Elon University Athletics

Jonathan Potter begins his fifth season as an assistant coach at Elon after a successful stint as an assistant with the Carolina Dynamo of the Premier Development League (PDL). The Dynamo won the 2011 South Atlantic Division title and qualified for the U.S. Open Cup against professional clubs. Potter also previously served as the director of men’s soccer operations at Southern Conference rival Davidson College.

Potter has been heavily involved with youth soccer in North Carolina, previously serving as the assistant director of the Burlington Soccer Club from 2011 to 2013. His other previous experiences include coaching in the Twin City Youth Soccer Association in his native Winston-Salem, N.C. Potter was also a staff coach with the Triangle United Soccer Association and the North Carolina Olympic Development Program (ODP) Staff.

During his time at Elon, he has helped the program reach new heights as the Phoenix has won one Southern Conference regular-season title, three SoCon tournament titles and reach the NCAA Tournament three times.

Potter aided the Phoenix to nine victories in its first season in the Colonial Athletic Association and saw goalkeeper Nathan Dean become the program's all-time leader in career shutouts under his tutelage. 

In 2012, he helped the maroon and gold sweep both the league's regular-season and tournament titles for the first time in school history. He also oversaw the program's rise into the national spotlight as the Phoenix earned a spot in the national polls for the first time since 2006 and achieve its highest ranking ever at No. 16 in the NSCAA National poll in 2013.

Potter has also been instrumental in overseeing the development Austen King, Gabe Latigue and Daniel Lovitz, who all currently play professionally.

A four-year starter for Chowan University, Potter appeared in all but one match in his career. In 2009 he trained with a professional team in Argentina. Before that he played in the USL with the Northern Virginia Royals Super-20 team, helping the squad reach the 2008 North American finals.

Potter possesses a U.S. Soccer Federation “B” Coaching License. He also received an advanced national diploma from the NSCAA. 

A 2010 graduate of Chowan, Potter holds a bachelor’s degree in physical education with a concentration in sport management and a minor in business administration. He earned his master's degree in athletic coaching education from West Virginia University in 2012.