Xavier’s Potts has passion for basketball

CEDAR RAPIDS - Stephanie Potts has been doing what she loves for 23 years.

An assistant coach on the Xavier girls' basketball team, Potts started here coaching career at Regis, where she spent five years. When Regis and LaSalle merged to form Xavier, she joined the Saints' coaching staff. She has been there ever since and has filled a number of different roles.

Potts has coached the sophomore team before she got called up to be Tom Lilly's assistant on the varsity squad. She has big plans for this year's team.

'I believe this team will surprise a lot of people,” Potts said. 'They work together and are doing the little things that it takes to get better every day. They are unselfish and have set high standards.”

Junior Jessica Callahan also has huge hopes for the Saints this season. Callahan hopes to finish better then their 18-9 record a year ago.

She plans to go down to Wells Fargo Arena by any means necessary.

'I think by working hard all season at practices and in games, we will be able to hopefully make it back to state,” Callahan said.

Potts has been working a lot with the posts, making them more aggressive with their moves. A lot of the players appreciate her as a person and a coach because she knows the game inside and out.

'She has a lot of knowledge and experience and is willing to work with any of the players to help them get better,” Callahan said.

The Saints (5-5) are at Waterloo West tonight.