Less than a month after abruptly ending his 31-year tenure as the head coach of Fordham University’s swim and dive program without explanation, Steve Potsklan has already found a new job at nearby Maritime College.
The two-time Atlantic 10 Coach of the Year will serve as the head coach of the men’s and women’s swim and dive teams at Maritime in addition to his role as aquatics director. Located just about seven miles away from Fordham in the Bronx, Maritime College is a State University of New York (SUNY) school that competes at the Division III level in the Skyline Conference.
“It’s a great honor to be named head swimming and diving Coach and aquatics Director at Maritime College,” Potsklan said. “I’d like to thank athletic director Mike Berkun for his trust in me and the opportunity to lead this great program. I look forward to creating something special here, and I can’t wait to get started.”
Potsklan was the longest-tenured coach at Fordham in any sport, boasting an impressive resumé highlighted by 175 school records, more than 50 individual conference champions, and the Ram women’s first Atlantic 10 title in 2010. In 2012, Brienne Ryan became the first Fordham swimmer to qualify for the NCAA Championships and U.S. Olympic Trials, and Amelia Bullock became the first to win Most Outstanding Performer at the Atlantic 10 Championships in 2020.
But the Aug. 22 press release announcing Potsklan’s departure mentioned none of his accolades — just 33 words and some well wishes — begging the question of whether he left on his own terms.
Fordham athletic director Ed Kull said he would appoint an interim head coach as soon possible, but the Rams are still holding captain-led practices more than three weeks later while the school continues interviewing candidates.
Last season, the Maritime men tied for 2nd out of four teams at the 2023 Skyline Conference Championships while the women placed 5th out of six teams. Potsklan replaces former Maritime head coach and aquatics director Jim Downey, who had been with the program for almost a decade.
Prior to Fordham, Potsklan spent time on staff at Yale, West Virginia, and Texas, where he coached several NCAA and U.S. Nationals finalists.
Steve Potsklan is an amazing person and coach. My son Ian learned how to swim at Fordham University from the age of 2 until he was 16 years old by Steve. They had a special program for children at Fordham. I made sure my son was in the program all year round.Steve made sure all the children learned how to swim and it was an amazing program. Maritime you are all lucky to have a wonderful head coach.
Rumor has it Fordham is still without any head coach or interim and they are forced to keep doing captains practices with little to no support from the athletic department in any regard. With their first meet coming up on the 13th, it begs the question whether or not it will actually happen….and why hasn’t Fordham Athletics done anything? Shame to see a Division 1 team treated this way, especially coming off of a season like last year.
Fordham can be turned into a great program. I may be Bronxbound…
Looking to turn this program around. Could be coming to fordham soon…
Dw I’m on my way to save the rams, prime style
Maritime got a great dude and a great coach, pray for the rams
This same thing happened at Manhattan College in the fall of 2018 after a Head Coach departure mid-season and it turned out okay in the long run, but it does make the current season VERY hard. It just takes time, hang in there Fordham Rams!
I respect the school for making the decision. His abrupt departure so close to the start of the season indicates there was a really good reason. I do wonder why the AD hasn’t found SOMEONE to lead their training until they find someone though. This is a D1 program with competition around the corner. Not fair to these swimmers to leave them completely on their own like this.