Longtime Crimson Tide Women's Golf Coach Mic Potter Retiring At End Of The Season

TUSCALOOSA, AL — Mic Potter, the longtime head coach who built Alabama Crimson Tide women's golf into a national contender, announced Monday he will retire at the end of the season.

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Potter, a National Golf Coaches Association Hall of Famer, has spent the last 21 seasons at Alabama and is in his 43rd year overall as an NCAA Division I head coach.

“When I arrived in Tuscaloosa, the goal was simple—build something special,” Potter said Monday. “Together, we were able to grow this program into one that competes at the highest level and represents Alabama with pride.”

Hired in 2005, Potter transformed the program into a consistent national contender after having reached just one NCAA Championship appearance prior to his arrival.

Under his leadership, Alabama captured its first national title in 2012 and finished as the national runner-up in 2018.

The Crimson Tide advanced to the NCAA Championships 14 times and made 18 regional appearances during his tenure.

Potter is widely regarded as the most successful coach in program history, with his teams winning 39 tournaments, including three Southeastern Conference championships and four NCAA Regional titles.

Across his career, including 22 seasons at Furman University, Potter has guided teams to more than 70 tournament victories.

Alabama Director of Athletics Greg Byrne credited Potter with elevating the program to national prominence.

“He elevated Alabama women’s golf to national prominence, from winning championships to producing All-Americans and developing future professional golfers,” Byrne said.

Potter earned Women’s Golf Coaches Association National Coach of the Year honors twice, in 2012 and 2018, and was named SEC Coach of the Year six times.

He's also coached 36 All-Americans and 64 All-SEC selections at Alabama, including three conference players of the year and five freshman of the year honorees.

Among his most notable players was Emma Talley, who won the 2015 NCAA individual championship and went on to compete on the LPGA Tour.

In total, 15 of Potter’s former players have earned LPGA Tour cards.

Beyond competitive success, Potter’s teams excelled in the classroom, with more than 70 players earning WGCA All-Scholar recognition, while over 150 were named to the SEC All-Academic team.

All eight Academic All-Americans in program history and all six SEC Scholar-Athletes of the Year were coached under Potter.

Before arriving in Tuscaloosa, Potter spent 22 seasons at Furman, where he led the Paladins to 16 NCAA Championship appearances and 10 Southern Conference titles.

He was inducted into the Furman Athletics Hall of Fame in 2022.

Potter, a graduate of Cortland State, said he is grateful for his time leading the program and the players who helped shape it.

“It’s been an honor to be part of this journey and to watch so many young women achieve greatness on and off the course,” he said.

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