masthead.jpg

switchconcepts.com, U3dpdGNo-a25, DIRECT rubiconproject.com, 14766, RESELLER pubmatic.com, 30666, RESELLER, 5d62403b186f2ace appnexus.com, 1117, RESELLER thetradedesk.com, switchconcepts, RESELLER taboola.com, switchconceptopenrtb, RESELLER bidswitch.com, switchconcepts, RESELLER contextweb.com, 560031, RESELLER amazon-adsystem.com, 3160, RESELLER crimtan.com, switch, RESELLER quantcast.com, switchconcepts , RESELLER rhythmone.com, 1934627955, RESELLER ssphwy.com, switchconcepts, RESELLER emxdgt.com, 59, RESELLER appnexus.com, 1356, RESELLER sovrn.com, 96786, RESELLER, fafdf38b16bf6b2b indexexchange.com, 180008, RESELLER nativeads.com, 52853, RESELLER theagency.com, 1058, RESELLER google.com, pub-3515913239267445, DIRECT, f08c47fec0942fa0
February 23, 2013

Poteat Happy to Be Back (and have a job)

Filed under: Football — Chas @ 9:18 am

I’m not saying he isn’t happy to be back in Pittsburgh. For god’s sake he was living in Grayson, Kentucky — which is spitting distance of West Virginia. I’m just saying he may have known that the time at KCU was drawing to a close.

Former NFL wide receiver and Kentucky Christian University football head coach Mike Furrey resigned to become the wide receivers coach at Marshall University, according to a Wednesday press release from KCU.

The release announced the naming of former assistant coach Gene Peterson to succeed Furrey.

Although Marshall officials said Furrey has not been officially hired, family sources confirmed Wednesday afternoon Furrey would be making the move to join the Thundering Herd.

Poteat met Furrey when they played together on the Browns in 2009. Furrey made him cornerbacks coach in 2010. Obviously coaching kids in NAIA is not the same, but at least he already has a foundation.

The version Poteat tells does not quite include that he was going to have to look for work.

He said he contacted Pitt after running into former Panthers quarterback Rod Rutherford at the 2013 American Football Coaches Association convention.

“I wanted to continue to move forward in my coaching career,” Poteat said. “So when I went out to the coaches convention, I got a lot of information from a lot of different people. Rod said, ‘Hey, why don’t you contact someone up at Pitt.’ ”

Poteat sent his resume to Chryst, who responded a few days later with a text message asking to talk. The two spoke on the phone and organized a visit to Pittsburgh for Poteat. It didn’t take long for Chryst to realize that he wanted Poteat on his staff.

“It was impressive and it was energizing hearing him speak,” Chryst said.

“We had a day with him and that was enough to validate the things you’ve heard. He is impressive and I’m excited for him to get here.”

If you were wondering, Rod Rutherford is the WR Coach/Recruiting Coordinator at IUP (oh, hi Luke Getsy).

Don’t think Poteat doesn’t know where he is expected to make the big contribution: helping on recruiting.

As a graduate assistant, Poteat is not allowed to participate in off-campus visits with recruits. He can, however, engage with prospects in on-campus visits and make phone calls to potential recruits.

“That’s something that I enjoyed doing even when I was in Kentucky,” Poteat said. “[You] get a chance to develop relationships with the young guys. I give it to them straight. I give them stories of my background and what made me a better player, how I will treat them the same way.”

Welcome back, Hank.





“how I will treat them the same way.”

Do I see a pattern developing here?

Comment by CompLit 02.23.13 @ 9:44 am

Chas, I’d like to second that. Welcome back Hank!
I like the idea of having Hank Poteat, on the Pitt coaching staff. Having graduate assistants with ties to the university and with professional playing experience is posivitive all the way around. As an ex-Panther who is still fairly young he will be able to better relate with the current players and with the new recruits. I like seeing former Pitt players involved with he Pitt programs. We have Brandon Knight coaching on Jamie Dixon’s staff and it provides a connection and continuity for everyone involved. Glad have you back home Hank. I think you’ll have a lot to offer our current Pitt Panthers. Hail to Pitt!

Comment by Justinian 02.23.13 @ 9:55 am

@ Justinian, DITTO! Plus it helps satisfy the “hire the Pitt guy” contingent.

Comment by Dr. Tom 02.23.13 @ 10:35 am

I like this hire and I’m OK with internal DC hire. Poteat can authentically sell Pitt FB to recruits AND what it will take for them to play in the NFL. With the promotion of House we lose the benefit of a “proven” DC, but get the trade-off that comes with maintaining continuity.

Comment by HbgFrank 02.23.13 @ 10:41 am

& WELCOME BACK, HANK !! HTP!!

Comment by CompLit 02.23.13 @ 11:03 am

@ all here…
A big double Yoi, ditto + back atcha Hank…!

oh, 10 yrs NFL experience to boot… talk about selling the story of where he came from, and what Pitt did for him as a football player and a man!

All opinions on the DC hire here are valid, an observation to make, reflected in Chas’ other post and the patherlair article… is to look at the 3 defense coaching moves as a package and how they fit together…
…and one big area could be recruiting… and gee if Poteat can come close to wait the Penn State kid Engram is doing… triple yoi…!

Comment by Pittscript 02.23.13 @ 1:58 pm

“close to what Engram is doing…” sorry

Comment by Pittscript 02.23.13 @ 1:59 pm

Great to see Hank back in the Burg.

Always felt he got the short shrift by the Stillers.

And is the last Pitt player to actually play for them. Yes Palko was on the roster but never played.

Poteat and the Panthers .,….on the Prowl !

Comment by EMel 02.23.13 @ 2:12 pm

Harrisburg and Eastern Pa is usually good for a few highly regarded prospects each year. Hank Poteat came from Harrisburg area if I recall and Engram played in central PA. Those two together should be powerful to young men and their families that need to make tough decisions.

Have said it before. Coach Chryst has a plan and he has a nice staff. Not huge names yet, but give them some time. I do see Inoke moving on this year or next, depending on recruiting successes this coming year.

To stay on point, welcome back Hank Poteat. I wish you well and hope your stay here in Pittsburgh lasts longer than your time as a player which means you and the team are successful! Good luck!

Comment by dhuffdaddy 02.23.13 @ 2:33 pm

Dhuff, Yes, we’ve gotten a lot of good ballplayers from the Harrisburg area, over the years. Harrisburg and New Jersey,so hopefully we can get the New Jersey connection going again. Wanny did very well there. Even with the restrictions on graduate assistants, he can still talk to recruits on the phone and be around when they visit.

Comment by Justinian 02.23.13 @ 2:43 pm

a hiring of a grad assistant who is a former alum and pro player and is young enough to relate cannot be critized especially since he who has never played under or coached with PCHC.

Comment by wbb 02.23.13 @ 3:32 pm

villanova is gone welcome FS

Comment by FRANKCAN 02.23.13 @ 5:06 pm

but we have to pick up a game on short notice
now

Comment by FRANKCAN 02.23.13 @ 5:07 pm

I like this alot. Frankly, Poteat overachieved in the NFL and people forget he was a fine kick returner also. Versatile, young, NFL pedigree, alum, chose Pitt over Sandusky State, has no ties with Wisconsin, model citizen and from the eastern part of the state where 1 out of 4 elected officials are convicted felons (national average is 1 out of 5), he has everything we need except a ton of coaching experience.
But he played the position at the highest level.
Great hire. Hiring Hank is money in the bank: he won’t tank: he’ll earn his rank: his players will crank: this choice don’t stank!

Comment by SFPitt 02.24.13 @ 6:02 am

My brother met him working out over the summer at the university of Delaware. Hank was getting ready for the steelers and my brother was getting ready for rugby. He said he was surprised anyone would recognize him and was cool. Good guy representing central pa

Comment by Dan 02.24.13 @ 12:37 pm

Powered by WordPress © PittBlather.com

Site Meter