By Benny Rogers/TVCC Sports Information
A familiar face is returning to the Southwest Junior College Football Conference by way of Trinity Valley Community College.
Ninth-year TVCC head football coach Brad Smiley announced last week that Sherard Poteete, 37, will return to the Cardinal program as offensive coordinator. He will replace Clay Patterson, who resigned in December to become the head football coach at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College.
Poteete served as the Cardinals’ offensive coordinator for three seasons (2010-12) before leaving for a one-year stint as head coach at NEO. He spent the last two seasons as offensive coordinator at Southeast Missouri State University.
“Couldn’t be more excited to have Sherard back with our program,’’ Smiley said. “He was with us in 2010 when we first went to the region championship, and led an offense the next few years that was the most explosive in the conference and among the best in the nation.
“His familiarity with me and the staff and our familiarity with him made this a no-brainer.”
In his first tenure leading the TVCC offense, the Cardinals reached the 2010 and 2011 regional championship games and made an appearance in the 2011 Citizens Bank Bowl.
Under Poteete’s tutelage, quarterback Tucker Carter was named first-team All-Conference, the SWJCFC Offensive Most Valuable Player and honorable mention NJCAA All-American. Carter ranked among the Top 10 in the NJCAA in passing yards (7th), total offense (8th) and passing touchdowns (5th).
“Jamie, the boys and I are excited for the opportunity to get back to Trinity Valley and Athens,” Poteete said. “The community was great to us the first go-round, we left a lot of good friends here and we look forward to rekindling those relationships.
“Coach Smiley and the staff has really been rolling the last few years and I look forward to joining in and helping to sustain that success.”
Poteete’s offense finished at or near the top of the conference in total offense, passing offense and rushing offense, and landed a total of six players on the All-SWJCFC first or second teams.
In 2010, the Cardinals finished first in the SWJCFC and fifth in the nation in total yards. They also led the conference and ranked sixth in the NJCAA in rushing offense. TVCC boasted Josh Johnson, a first-team NJCAA All-American, the SWJCFC Most Valuable Player and the league’s leading rusher that year, as well.
Poteete coached a total of 35 Division I signees during his first tenure at the college.
His quarterback’s the past two years at SEMO left their mark on the school record books. In 2014, quarterback Kyle Snyder set a school record for total offense. In 2015, his quarterback, Dante Vandeven, was named the OVC Freshman of the Year and running back, Tremane McCullough was named OVC Newcomer of the Year as well as earning 1st Team All-OVC honors.
Poteete began his coaching career at Louisiana College, where he spent six seasons. He held titles of offensive coordinator, passing game coordinator, special teams coordinator and quarterbacks coach during his time with the Wildcats.
Statistically, Poteete’s offenses at LC rated among the best in both the NCAA and American Southwest Conference. In 2009, the Wildcats finished among the top-three in the ASC and top-30 in the NCAA in scoring offense, total offense, passing offense, passing efficiency and turnover margin. In addition, he earned the reputation as one of the school’s top recruiters during that time.
As a quarterback, Poteete enjoyed a stellar career at Tulsa Union High School, Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, Southern Illinois University, and professionally in the Arena Football League.
An All-State selection in high school, Poteete signed with NEO and led the
Golden Norsemen to the 1998 SWJCFC and Red River Bowl Championship, earning All-Conference honors in the process.
After signing with SIU, Poteete was named the 1999 Missouri Valley Football Conference Newcomer of the Year and made garnered All-MVFC accolades in 2000.
Poteete then spent four seasons in the Arena Football League with both Shreveport and Columbus, and still holds league records in passing, rushing and touchdowns.
Poteete is married to the former Jamie Campbell and they are the parents of two sons, Kannon (12) and Parker (8).