(2-21-23) Celina (Ohio) graduate Kurt Pottkotter recently took a new position as SMU’s Executive Deputy Director of Athletics/COO this past January (2023). Pottkotter had been SMU’s Deputy Director of Athletics. In his role, Pottkotter oversees the day-to-day operations of the athletic department in support of 484 student-athletes across 17 sports. He is the primary Sport Administrator for football and men’s and women’s tennis and serves as the department’s liaison to Nike and the Dallas Open.

For four years prior to his promotion to Deputy AD, Pottkotter led the department’s fundraising efforts as Senior Associate AD for Development. His tenure overseeing all private philanthropy in support of Mustang Athletics, including capital projects, major gifts and annual funds, resulted in the then three most successful fundraising years in SMU Athletics’ history.

During his time at SMU has renovated and expanded Moody Coliseum and opened numerous new facilities including the SMU Indoor Performance Center and Armstrong Fieldhouse, Styslinger/Altec SMU Tennis Complex, Robson & Lindley Aquatics Center and Barr-McMillion Natatorium and the Payne Stewart SMU Golf Training Center at Trinity Forest Golf Club.

SMU Director of Athletics Rick Hart said on January 26th 2023 about the changes taking place in the SMU athletic department:

“With the recent departure of two of our leadership team members and the impending departure of Susan Vollmerhausen at the end of the women’s basketball season, we were given the opportunity to reevaluate our structure. We believe that this new Athletics Senior Staff aligns our people with our stated goals for SMU Athletics. We also wanted to expand our administrative leadership team to include more perspectives and voices and to recognize several individuals who play critical roles in our organization. Overall, we believe this better positions us to serve our student-athletes, coaches and fans.”

Before joining SMU Athletics, Pottkotter led SMU’s National Major Giving program, increasing major gift commitments from 10 leadership cities across the country. In addition to his major gift experience at SMU and with The Ohio State University’s Fisher College of Business, Pottkotter previously served SMU as Assistant Director of Development for the Cox School of Business and Assistant Director of Annual Giving.

Pottkotter was a basketball student-athlete at the University at Buffalo and Ohio Dominican College, receiving a degree in Political Science. Pottkotter earned his Master’s degree in Sports Administration from Ohio University in 2000 and began his career in athletic development at Boston College.

In 2006 Pottkotter was inducted into the Celina High School Athletic Hall of Fame where he competed in soccer and basketball during his career.

Pottkotter and his wife, Amy (Zimmerman) also a Celina grad, have three children, Joshua, Audrey and Katherine.

Advertisement