Back in 2004, Dave Potter went out of his way to say he was merely "stepping aside" as a head coach in soccer.

He didn't want anything to do with the notion that he was retiring from coaching the sport he so dearly loves, and recently showed just why by accepting the head position with the girls soccer program at St. Mary's High.

"The No. 1 thing is that my boys are done playing their college soccer, and that was the reason why we stepped down in the first place," said Potter, 56.

Potter said it was a "dream come true" for he and his wife Karen to watch their son Daniel play for George Fox University the past two seasons. They had lamented not being able to see their oldest son Bobby play soccer when he was at the collegiate level. Their youngest son Kevin was playing soccer for Embry-Riddle until the school dropped his minor and forced him into transferring to another school in North Dakota.

But with the boys' playing days complete, Potter said he began to welcome the idea of returning to the high school level.

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"I will admit it's been a real nice luxury to not wrap up the school day and have to shoot over to another commitment," said Potter, who teaches third grade at Abraham Lincoln Elementary, "but at the same time there's been a hole in my heart because something's been missing that I dearly love to do."

Since he stepped down at South Medford High, Potter has continued to coach for the Rogue Valley Soccer Club and serve as a staff instructor for the Oregon Youth Soccer Association.

"We've been anywhere but out of soccer," he said. "For me, it's still the game of choice. I'm fascinated with the game."

In fact, it was one of Potter's winter season players — Whitney Adderson — who first approached him about the St. Mary's position, which was vacated by Lia Kirkpatrick at the end of last season.

Potter said he found the opportunity intriguing, then began meeting with more people associated with the girls program over the past month and thought that joining the Crusaders would be a good fit.

"They really reached out and made it a very attractive situation for me," said Potter.

The biggest turning point came a month ago when he got a chance to sit down with the St. Mary's players.

"I woke up the next morning and knew what the answer was," Potter said of accepting the position. "It was just the neatest feeling after having the opportunity to meet the players and find out what they're all about and get a feel for their wants and their personalities. That was a very rewarding situation for me."

The Crusaders lose only two seniors to graduation from a squad that went 7-9 and placed fourth in District 6 last year to qualify for the Class 2A state tournament.

"This is most likely going to be my last coaching job and I want to make it the best I've ever done," said Potter, who is in his 35th year teaching and got his coaching start in wrestling in 1973. "I'm looking forward to it."

Reach reporter Kris Henry at 776-4488, or e-mail khenry@mailtribune.com