Football

Sherard Poteete begins his sixth season at the helm of the Cardinal football program in 2023.

Poteete, in his second tenure at the college, took over as head coach on Dec. 7, 2017 after having completed his fifth season with the Cardinals. He served as offensive coordinator for three seasons in 2010-12 before returning in 2016.

In his first five seasons, the Cardinals have compiled a 30-18 record. This past season, they were 8-3 overall and a perfect 7-0 in SWJCFC action, winning the regular season conference championship.

In 2019, the Cardinals went 7-4 and were the only Texas team to compete in bowl game, played in the Midwest Bowl Classic.

In his inaugural season as head coach in 2018, the Cardinals posted a 4-5 season mark. They were 3-4 in the Southwest Junior College Football Conference, just missing the regional playoffs by one game.

In his final season as offensive coordinator in 2017, the Poteete-led Cardinal offense helped the Cardinals to a fourth straight SWJCFC regular season title, a fifth straight No. 1 seed in the SWJCFC regional playoffs  and to the C.H.A.M.P.S. Heart of Texas Bowl for a second straight year and fourth time in five years.

The Cardinal offense, which led the SWJCFC in points (496), touchdowns (64), rushing touchdowns (25), PATs (59) and first downs (260), finished first in the league and third in the nation in passing yards (2,359) in 2017. The Cardinals were also second in the conference and fifth in the nation in total yards (5,553).

Poteete’s offense produced 10 All-SWJCFC selections in 2017.

The Cardinals were 9-3 and finished ranked sixth nationally.

In 2016, Poteete’s up-tempo Cardinal offensive attack was literally the “fastest” offense in all of junior college football.  The Cardinals set a NJCAA Offensive Record for most plays in a season, en route to conference, regional and bowl titles, an 11-1 record and No. 4 national ranking.

The Cardinals also continued their run as one of the premier offenses in the conference and nation leading the SWJCFC in points scored (595), touchdowns (77), passing touchdowns (38), total yards (6715), rushing yards (3125) and yards per carry (6.6).

He returned to Athens after spending the 2014 and 2015 seasons as offensive coordinator for Southeast Missouri State University, where he also coached the team’s quarterbacks.

While at SEMO, his offense produced the Ohio Valley Conference’s 2015 Newcomer of the Year (QB Dante Vandeven), 2015 Freshman of the Year (RB Tremane McCullough) and a 2015 NCAA All-American (WR Paul McRoberts).

Also under his tutelage, 2014 QB Kyle Snyder set the all-time record for total offense in school history.  In both seasons at SEMO, Poteete’s offenses typically finished at or near the top of the Ohio Valley Conference in several categories.

Prior to joining the staff at SEMO in December of 2012, he was the head football coach at his alma mater Northeastern Oklahoma A&M (NEO).

During Poteete’s previous tenure at TVCC, the Cardinals were one of the SWJCFC’s and NJCAA’s most explosive offenses.  Under his direction,  the Cardinal offense also produced the 2010 SWJCFC MVP (RB Josh Johnson) and 2011 SWJCFC Offensive Player of the Year (QB Tucker Carter).

The 2010 offense finished fifth nationally in total offense and produced the SWJCFC’s leading passer, rusher and first, second and fourth leading receivers.

In 2011, the offense finished seventh nationally in total offense en route to an appearance in the Citizens Bank Bowl.

Before coming to Athens, Poteete spent six seasons at Louisiana College in several roles for the Wildcats.  From 2007-09, he was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. In 2006, he was the team’s passing game coordinator and special team coordinator. He was receiver coach from 2002-03.

Poteete also spent some time coaching in the high school ranks at Timpson, where he was quarterback/receivers coach in 2004-05.

As a player, Poteete was highly decorated as the Gateway Conference Newcomer of the Year and an All-Conference selection at Southern Illinois University.  Known for playing with attitude, he took home the “Toughest Saluki” award his senior year.

At NEO, Poteete led the Golden Norseman to the 1999 SWJCFC regional championship and an appearance in the 1999 Red River Bowl.

Originally from Tulsa, the former Union HS QB star was All-District, All-State and selected to participate in the Oil Bowl All Star game.

Sherard is married to the former Jamie Campbell, and the couple has two sons, Kannon (19) and Parker (16).