Eric Potochney - Head Football Coach - Football Coaches (2023)

Began As Head Coach: 2021 season
Season: 2022 will be his second season as Head Coach and 16th year at Webber overall

Accolades: Third Head Coach in the history of the Webber football program

Eric Potochney is entering his 16th season with the Webber International University football program, and his second at the helm of the Warriors in 2022.

Over the last year Coach Potochney and his staff spent countless hours improving the structure and foundation of the football program. One of these things was starting an Annual Football Alumni & Program Supporters fundraising dinner to generate financial support for our football program and university. Last year with all the fundraising, we manage to raise about $150,000 that went right back into making our football program and University better. We sold the Naming Rights to our Football Locker room to Class of 2009 Alum Michael Bruck for $20,000 and we sold the Naming right to our Football Fieldhouse to Class of 2006 Alum Kyle Dicks for $50,000. This fundraising allowed us to upgrade our facilities; including installed a scoreboard on our game field, installing fencing around our field, upgrading and renovating our football field house and locker room, and much more. We have also put a plan in place to continue our process of improving our facilities, football program, and our university.

Last season under the direction of Coach Potochney, the Warriors defeated #19 Faulkner University for the first win of the season. The Warriors also went on to defeat rival Warner University in the Lake Caloosa Clash to reclaim the rivalry trophy. The Warriors finished with 3 All Conference players; 1^st Team RB - Tremon Bright, 2^nd Team LB - Colten Cormier, and 2^nd Team DB - Devonte Harris. Tremon Bright rushed for 1024 yards and was only the second player in school history to rush for over 1,000 yards in a single season. The Warriors also had 6 players named to the Mid-South Academic All-Conference team including; WR - Fredrick Curry, DB - Josh Given, WR - Tanner Peacock, DB - Trent Peacock, QB - Kristopher Sippel, and DL - Cameron Stephens.

In 2021 the Warriors set numerous statistical record as well:
Single Game Scoring record – 72 points vs Warner University
Single Game Touchdowns record (10) vs Warner University
Single Game Offensive yards’ record (709 yds) vs Warner University
Single Game 1^st Downs record (35) vs Faulkner University
Single Season Touchdown Catch record (7 TD – Jacob Moss)
Ranked 2^nd – Single Season Rushing Yards (1024 yds – Tremon Bright)
Ranked 2^nd – Average Rushing Yards per Game in Program History (102.4 yds / game – Tremon Bright)
Ranked 2^nd – Rushing Yards in a Game in Program History (222 yds vs Warner – Tremon Bright)
Ranked 3^rd – All Purpose Yards in a Single Season in Program History (1124 yds – Tremon Bright)
Rank Tied 5^th – Single Season Rushing Touchdowns (7 – Maynard Blackmon)

Previously, Coach Potochney was the Warriors' defensive coordinator for 10 seasons (2011-2020) in addition to his duties as the coach of the linebackers. During his tenure as defensive coordinator, the Warriors were consistently ranked as one of the top defenses both in the Mid-South Conference and in the nation under Potochney's watch.

The Warrior defense has held the following rankings and has had numerous individual stand out players under Coach Potochney’s tutelage:

2019

• Ranked 6^th in Pass Defense for the Mid-South Conference
• Ranked 7^th in Scoring Defense for the Mid-South Conference
• Defense Forced 23 Turnovers in 9 Games
• Coached 15^th Nationally Ranked Defensive Player in Tackles per Game (10.4)
• Coached 8^th Nationally Ranked Defensive Player in Forced Fumbles per Game (.3)
• 3 Defensive Players Earned All-Conference Honors
• 2 Players Earned Sun Division Defensive Player of the Week

2018

• Ranked 6^th Nationally (89 Total) in Total Defense per game (271.7)
• Ranked 4^th Nationally (89 Total) in Pass Defense per Game (144.1)
• Ranked 7^th Nationally (89 Total) in Scoring Defense per Game (17)
• Ranked 10^th Nationally (89 Total) in Sacks by per Game (3.1)
• Ranked 8^th Nationally (89 Total) in Opponents 1^st Downs (168)
• Coached 8^th Nationally Ranked Defensive Player in Tackles for Loss per Game (1.8)
• Coached 11^th Nationally Ranked Defensive Player in Sacks per Game (.9)

2017

• Ranked 2^nd Nationally (88 Total) in Opponent 1^st Downs (138)
• Ranked 5^th Nationally (88 Total) in Total Defense per Game (280.9)
• Ranked 7^th Nationally (88 Total) in Rush Defense per Game (104.4)
• Ranked 9^th Nationally (88 total) in Pass Defense per Game (176.4)
• Ranked 11^th Nationally (88 Total) in Opponent 3^rd Down Conversions (31.5%)
• Defense Forced 27 Turnovers in 9 Games
• Coached 1^st Nationally Ranked Defensive Player in Forced Fumbles per Game (.7)

2016

• Ranked 6^th Nationally (85 Total) in Pass Defense per Game (155.1)
• Ranked 14^th Nationally (85 Total) in Total Defense per Game (324.8)
• Coached 4^th Nationally Ranked Defensive Player in Tackles for Loss per game averaging (2.1)

2015

• Ranked 9^th Nationally (85 Total) in Rush Defense per Game (112.2yds)
• Ranked 1^st in Total Defense, Rush Defense, & Scoring Defense for The Sun Conference
• Defense Forced 24 Turnovers in 10 Games
• Coached 2^nd Nationally Ranked Defensive Player in Total Sacks for the season (11)

2014

• THE SUN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONS
• Ranked 1^st in Total Defense, Rush Defense, & Scoring Defense for The Sun Conference
• Ranked 3^rd Nationally (88 Total) in Scoring Defense (16.9 pts.) per Game
• Ranked 2^nd Nationally (88 Total) in Punt Return yds. (19.1 yds.) per Return
• Coached 5^th Nationally Ranked Defensive Player in Interceptions per Game averaging (.6)
• Coached 3^rd Nationally Ranked Defensive Player in Sacks per Game averaging (1.2)

2013

• Ranked 1^st in Scoring Defense & Rush Defense for the Independent Conference
• Ranked 2^nd in Total Defense for the Independent Conference
• Ranked 9^th Nationally (84 Total) in Scoring Defense (18.5 pts.) per Game
• Ranked 12^th Nationally (84 total) in Total Defense (316 yds.) per Game
• Coached 5^th Nationally Ranked Defensive Player in Tackles per Game averaging (11.6)
• Coached 9^th Nationally Ranked Defensive Player in Interceptions per Game averaging (.5)

2012

• Ranked 11^th Nationally (80 total) in Rushing Defense (104.8 yds.) per Game
• Ranked 8^th Nationally (80 total) in sacks (3.2) per game
• Coached 4^th Nationally Ranked Defensive Player in Tackles per Game averaging (12.5)
• Coached 9^th Nationally Ranked Defensive Player in Tackles for Loss per game averaging (1.8)
• Coached 8^th Nationally Ranked Defensive Player in Sacks per Game averaging (.9)

2011

• Ranked 1^st in Total defense for the Independent Conference
• Ranked 10^th Nationally (81 total) in Opponents First Downs (150) season
• Coached 11^th Nationally Ranked Defensive Player in Tackles for Loss per game averaging (1.6)

Potochney also served as the Recruiting Coordinator for Webber football from 2010-2018. Additionally, Coach Potochney was the Special Teams Coordinator in 2010. In 2010, the Warriors were ranked sixth nationally in punt returns, averaging 15.2 yards per punt return, and ranked ninth nationally averaging 40.7 yards per punt attempt.

As a high school athlete, Potochney graduated from Tampa Bay Technical High School in Tampa, Florida. He accumulated numerous awards including All-State, All-County, All-District, All-Conference, All-Sun Coast, and the Scholar-Athlete Award, and was a member of the Hillsborough County All-Star team.

Potochney started his collegiate playing career at Webber as a member of the inaugural football team in 2002 and is known as one of the "Shed Boys". Potochney graduated from Webber cum laude with his Bachelor's degree in general business studies in 2005 and received his MBA in the spring of 2008. As a collegiate player at Webber, Potochney led the nation in tackles in 2006, averaging 14.1 tackles per game and totaling 141 tackles in ten games. In 2005, Potochney was ranked fifth in the nation after averaging 12.8 tackles per game.

Potochney still holds several statistical defensive records for the Warriors, including tackles in a season (141), average tackles per game in a season (14.1), tackles in a career (389), and tackles in a single game (21).

Potochney was awarded as an NAIA Honorable Mention All-American in both 2005 and in 2006, was named the 2006 SEAC Player of the Year, was a four-year team captain for the Warriors, and was the team's defensive MVP in 2005 and 2006 all while being a National Collegiate Scholar-Athlete in the classroom.

Potochney played professional football upon finishing up for the Warriors, where he won back-to-back American Indoor Football Association championships in 2007 with the Lakeland (FL) Thunderbolts, and in 2008 with the Florence (SC) Phantoms, playing linebacker and special teams. Potochney also played for the Huntingdon (WV) Heroes in 2008.

Coach Potochney resides in Lake Wales, Florida, with his wife Christy, son Brantley and daughter Braylee.