Steve Potsklan Out As Fordham Head Coach After 31 Years

Longtime Fordham University head coach Steve Potsklan will no longer serve in the position he’s held for over three decades.

The school announced Tuesday that Potsklan was “leaving” his post as head coach of the men’s and women’s swim & dive program effective immediately in a very brief statement

A Fordham spokesperson declined to provide additional information regarding Potsklan’s abrupt departure “at this time”.

SwimSwam has reached out to Potsklan for comment.

Potsklan has been Fordham’s head coach for the past 31 seasons, dating all the way back to 1992-93, making him the longest-tenured head coach at the school.

He led the women’s program to the 2010 Atlantic 10 Championship title, and was named the A10 Women’s Swimming Coach of the Year in consecutive seasons in 2009 and 2010.

The Rams’ victory in 2010 marked the first A10 title by any women’s sport at Fordham since they joined the conference in 1995-96.

Most recently, the Fordham men and women both finished fifth at the 2023 A10 Championships, with the men’s performance marking its best since 2017.

Overall, Potsklan led Fordham to 51 Atlantic 10 individual conference championship victories in addition to setting 175 school records.

Prior to Fordham, Potsklan served as an assistant coach at Yale for five seasons. He also served on the staff at Penn State, where he graduated in 1985, and West Virginia, where he earned a Master’s degree.

While at Penn State, Potsklan went from being a walk-on to the team’s MVP, setting six school records and becoming a two-time A10 champion in the men’s 100 free. He also holds a Master’s degree from West Virginia.

Fordham Director of Athletics Ed Kull will appoint an interim head coach as soon as possible.

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Justus
1 year ago

Former fusd swimmer here. Steve was the goat

Craig
1 year ago

Loved steve, he was a great coach that genie Lu cared bout us. Upset that he’s leaving our team so sudden

Yabo
1 year ago

I hope that Fordham can actually now become a decent mid major program. Steve has been holding this program back for a decade

Blackflag82
Reply to  Yabo
1 year ago

Longer than that

the concerned swimmer
1 year ago

pray for FUSD 🙏🙏😭

swim4fun
1 year ago

Not only Potsklan, the assistant coach has also left. Just 2 diving coaches (one is a volunteer) listed under coaching staff…

☕️☕️☕️☕️
1 year ago

Tea…

Thirteenthwind
Reply to  ☕️☕️☕️☕️
1 year ago
Odin
Reply to  Thirteenthwind
1 year ago

big yikes

Free Thinker
Reply to  Thirteenthwind
1 year ago

that website holy smokes – i had no idea that existed.

MarkB
Reply to  Free Thinker
1 year ago

Not sure how accurate this site is, though. I did a quick perusal and 29% of swimmers would recommend Eddie Reese as a coach.

joannietheswimmer
Reply to  Thirteenthwind
1 year ago

Took long enough! Those comments started 6 years ago.

Swimgirl18
Reply to  Thirteenthwind
1 year ago

Look at Cal Poly SLO coach, almost exact same comments.

M d e
Reply to  Thirteenthwind
1 year ago

I’m not saying that this shouldn’t be considered…

BUT

https://www.2adays.com/coaches/teri-mckeever-40864

HereForTheMems
Reply to  M d e
1 year ago

https://www.2adays.com/coaches/phil-yoshida-66079
https://www.2adays.com/coaches/amanda-caldwell-52823
https://www.2adays.com/coaches/mandy-commons-disalle-41058
https://www.2adays.com/coaches/charlie-king-40713

Honestly don’t know how kids find these websites, and obviously this could be one or two disgruntled kids looking for an outlet. As with everything, grain of salt, found these few interesting since they have more than 5 “reviews”

CoachClassy
Reply to  HereForTheMems
1 year ago

How I see these anon posts on 2adays:

Alfred Pennyworth : Well, because he thought it was good sport. Because some men aren’t looking for anything logical, like money. They can’t be bought, bullied, reasoned, or negotiated with. Some men just want to watch the world burn.

HereForTheMems
Reply to  CoachClassy
1 year ago

Global warming is real baby, the world is already burning

CoachClassy
Reply to  Thirteenthwind
1 year ago

Not sure how reliable source this website is. People loving on Teri McKeever. Not recommending Eddie Reese.

Would love to see these be more like Yelp reviews where coaches/admin could respond to verify comments. “Team member enter portal before being cut from program because of excessive absences.” Or “Team member not renewed for breaking team rules.” Or “We are sorry to hear that is your experience, please stop by our office so we can discuss this more.” Could add a full picture of what is really going on and eliminate drama (which sounds like some coaches are trying to do).

Most of these comments are from disgruntled 18-22 yro who are not getting there way, being held to a… Read more »

This Guy
1 year ago

Strange timing.

Swammer
Reply to  This Guy
1 year ago

Yes, and very brief un-Fordham-like statement in light of his tenure.

Swimgirl18
Reply to  This Guy
1 year ago

The bad coaches need to go, no more protecting the old boys network – bad coaches ruin these athletes as people too not just as athletes. How many have quit that team the past 6+ years? Look at those numbers.

anonymous
Reply to  Swimgirl18
1 year ago

Not only quit the team, but will be suffering through a lifetime of pain due to injuries because they “pushed through it”

nobody
Reply to  Swimgirl18
1 year ago

3 seniors quit the most recent season. One was a captain. About 10+ in the last 3 seasons.

About James Sutherland

James Sutherland

James swam five years at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, specializing in the 200 free, back and IM. He finished up his collegiate swimming career in 2018, graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics. In 2019 he completed his graduate degree in sports journalism. Prior to going to Laurentian, James swam …

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