Hardin Valley football coach Mike Potter resigns after seven wins in three seasons

Hardin Valley head football coach Mike Potter announced to players today that he has resigned as coach.

Hardin Valley athletic director Bryan Brown said Potter and principal Rob Speas "had a conversation" this morning and came to the decision that Potter would resign. 

The Hawks have finished below .500 in all of Potter's seasons as head coach. This season, the team went 1-9 and 0-5 in Region 1-6A to miss the playoffs for the third year in a row. 

Potter went 7-23 during his tenure.

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Brown said that Hardin Valley hopes to change the direction of the program with a new coach, and expressed gratitude to Potter for his contributions to the team.

"We're very thankful that he's been our coach and coached with integrity and took care of the boys," Brown said. "He's a valued member of our teaching staff here, and we're thankful for what he's done over the last three years for our program."

Senior wide receiver Zach Passafume said the team was sad to see Potter go, but he said there has been buzz since the announcement about who the new hire will be. 

"They're excited to move on, but at the same time, they're going to miss him, because he really did help people grow," Passafume said. "I really hope (the new coach) finds a way to develop the talent that's there ... because there's a lot of young people on the team."

Contact Emily Adams at eaadams@gannett.com or on Twitter @eaadams6.