Potzer has had a chance to see his players during summer workouts and has been impressed with what the Colts have to offer.
"The girls have been coming out about two days a week,'' Potzer said. "We've been getting a pretty good turnout. I just want the girls to work hard. You have to have the attitude to work hard and put in the effort.''
Potzer, whose classes include the field of technological robotics, realizes the new position won't be an easy one because of the standards set by his predecessor.
Racine built the girls soccer program into a consistent winner that has captured Morris County Tournament (in 2008 and 2009) and state sectional and Group I titles (in 2006) despite being one of the smallest schools in competition. Racine finished with a 129-47-17 record in nine seasons at the helm. Combined with the records he set over his years at Morris Catholic, Racine has compiled a mark of 539-105-38 and is ranked fifth on the all-time girls varsity soccer lists. He remade a Colts program that rarely reached the .500 mark before his arrival.
"Racine is a legend,'' Potzer said. "He's known nationally. I know I'm stepping into big shoes."
Potzer has known success at the high school level. He is a former Union High soccer play who earned his teaching degree at The College of New Jersey in Ewing. After graduation he spent seven years at Bernards High as an assistant coach for Joe LaSpada and his outstanding Mountaineers boys soccer teams.
For the past three years, Potzer developed the girls soccer team at High Point into a winning program. He leaves the Wildcats with a combined 37-18-5 mark. Last year was one of High Point's best. The Wildcats finished 15-3-2 with the help of Sussex County Player of the Year Jamie Christensen and standouts Lexie Brennan, Brook Derin and Sam Ritter. They captured the Hunterdon-Warren-Sussex Tournament title.
One reason the girls soccer hire was delayed was the possibility that athletic director Scott Rosenberg might be allowed to take over the position. Rosenberg once coached the Morris Hills girls soccer program at the varsity level. He has also been a volunteer coach for the girls program the last couple of seasons. Generally, school districts prefer that their athletic directors do not coach individual sports and Potzer was tabbed in late May.
Potzer realizes the uniqueness of the situation and appreciates the support of his new boss.
"He's volunteered to help out,'' Potzer said. "It's great that I can go to him with a problem or I can bounce ideas off him.''
Kinnelon has the chance to be exceptional again this year. The Colts only lost four seniors from last year's team that advanced to the MCT title game (for the third time in the last four seasons) before losing to Randolph. The combination of talent and experience returning has Kinnelon expecting another stellar season with a new coach.
"We've been practicing all summer,'' Potzer said. "The girls are all excited.''
