Coach Ken Potter Breaks Record for Most Football Wins

Ken Potter became Oregon’s all-time winningest high school football coach on Friday, September 20 with an extraordinary 353rd career win.

Ken was named Jesuit’s varsity football coach in 1987. It was his first head coaching job, and the Crusaders went undefeated in league play his first season at the helm.

Since then, Coach Potter has won 24 Metro League championships and four state titles (2000, 2005, 2006 and 2015). He has earned numerous accolades including Metro Coach of the Year, Oregon Coach of the Year, and National Coach of the Year (Western Region).

Coaching runs in the Potter family: Ken’s dad George coached high school football teams for 44 years, and his brother Gene has been head basketball coach at Jesuit since 1992. (Gene joined Jesuit in 1987 as an assistant coach on Ken’s football staff and assistant coach on the men’s basketball team.) Ken has also served as an assistant track coach at Jesuit for many seasons.

Ken’s holistic approach makes him a great coach, according to John Andreas ’96, Jesuit’s offensive coordinator, offensive line coach and history teacher. “It’s not just the X’s and O’s, but his concern for student-athletes. The emphasis he places on developing the whole person over wins and losses is at the center of his coaching. He’s always been in line with the Jesuit mission.”

John also played under Ken Potter from 1993-1995. He remembers Ken letting the players set the tone for the season, allowing leadership to grow organically from within. Ken takes the same approach with the coaching staff: “He trusts us to act within the best interest of the program and encourages us to take ownership in our respective roles.”

Ken was a high school quarterback and lettered in four sports in college at Walla Walla Junior College and Oregon Institute of Technology. Before coming to Jesuit, he served as assistant football coach at Portland State University, Aloha High School, and Tigard High School, where he also helped coach women’s basketball and track and field.

Ken is an educator both on and off the field: He works in Jesuit’s counseling office, providing valuable guidance and support to countless students throughout his tenure. He demonstrates that same cura personalis (care for the whole person) in the football program, teaching his student-athletes not only the fundamentals of the game, but also important lessons in character development, humility, faith, selflessness, and teamwork.

“He is quite possibly the best educator I’ve ever been around,” said Jason Lowery ’93, counselor and head women’s basketball coach at Jesuit. “Coach is a mentor, colleague, and friend, and has been a personal daily example to me on how to be an impactful high school counselor and coach. He is a living legend and a pillar of this school. He’s salt of the Earth.”

Congratulations to Coach Potter on this monumental achievement! Jesuit High School is incredibly grateful for his inspiring dedication to our students and mission over the last 37 years. We also extend our profound gratitude to Coach Potter’s family for their steadfast support throughout his remarkable career.

Go Crusaders!