By Junious Smith III

Ben Potter is going from competing to coaching in only a year’s time.

Potter was recently named Averett University’s new golf coach, taking over after graduating from the Danville, Va., school this year. Potter, a 2015 Bethel Christian Academy graduate, played two seasons at Johnston Community College before transferring to Averett. During his final two collegiate years with the Cougars, Potter received the USA South Academic All-Conference award, was named to the conference’s All-Sportsmanship team and helped the team win the Virginia Wesleyan University Marlins Invitational earlier this season.

Potter said it is a dream job and he’s excited to go to work.

“I had been applying for jobs across the country as an assistant, but then this opportunity came up,” Potter said. “I have the chance to work with a great group of guys at a school I’ve loved and gotten comfortable at.”

Potter said he wants to get the university back to national prominence as a coach.

“I hope to get Averett back to the level we were at in the early 2000s,” Potter said. “We had a really good program and won a national championship in 2003, and while the program is still strong, the goal is to get back into the Top 25 for Division III.”