June 1, 2013 – In thanking the Academy for the honor, former Athletic Director Bill Pottle (Chris '89, Jackie '97) talked about how former headmaster David Smith took a chance on him when he asked if he would be the interim athletic director for a year until they found “a real AD.”
In 1976, after graduating from the University of New Hampshire, where Pottle earned both his undergraduate and graduate degrees, he came to Brewster to teach chemistry and coach. While at Brewster he coached soccer, basketball, and lacrosse. It was just two years after that when Smith asked him to fill in for a year as athletic director.
Bill Pottle turned out to be that “real AD.”
In 1979 he was named athletic director, a position he held for 20 years. “It quickly evolved from a job to a way of life and I never looked back,” he said.
Pottle grew the interscholastic and recreation sports offerings extensively. He added wrestling, boys and girls’ ice hockey, field hockey, softball, crew, sailing, outdoor skills, equestrian, junior varsity boys and girls’ tennis, girls’ junior varsity basketball, and the strength and conditioning program. With the exception of wresting, which is no longer offered, these programs are thriving.
He also oversaw the building of Brown Field and Baseball Field.
He served as NEPSAC president and Lakes Region League president, and has been named US Lacrosse Coach of the Year multiple times. In 2008 he received NEPSAC’s Distinguished Service Award.
Pottle is perhaps most proud of staring the local Abenaki Youth Lacrosse program, which has sent numerous athletes to find success at the secondary school and college levels.
Between Brewster and retirement, he served as the athletic director and a coach at Kimball Union Academy in New Hampshire. He lives in Kensington, New Hampshire, and is the parent of two Brewster graduates: Chris, Class of 1988 and Jackie, Class of 1997.
One thread that has always run through his career as an athletic director is the camaraderie and friendships, he said. “My life for the past 35 years has been greatly influenced by private schools,” he shared. “My 24 years at Brewster Academy was possibly the most important of my life and the best time of my life.”
“It is with great appreciation that I accept this recognition, accomplishment, and good feeling.”
