As one of the inaugural hires, Dr. Ian R. Potter was elevated to Executive Athletics Director position within the Office of Athletics on February 1, 2024 after playing an integral role since the Office's founding in 2012. Potter most recently served as GGC's Deputy Athletics Director.
Potter has expanded the department with the addition of a strength and conditioning and director of advancement for athletics.
Potter has overseen the inaugural men's and women's basketball during the 2025-26 athletic season with games played on campus in the Convocation Center. GGC hosted six conference tournament championships in 2025-26, winning four titles.
Potter hired the inaugural basketball coaches who earned CAC Coach of the Year honors. He also welcomed new baseball coach Tommy Goodale in January 2026 and received the CAC Coach of the Year award. A few months prior Potter hired Tom Rees as the men's and women's tennis coach and Rees guided the Grizzlies to an undefeated 2026 men's tennis season that featured the NAIA national championship.
In his two-and-a-half years at the helm of the athletic department the Grizzlies have achieved a 3.0 or higher grade point average, won nine conference championships and four NAIA national titles.
In his role as Deputy Athletics Director he collaborated with the Assistant Athletics Director for business on budget and financial matters within the athletics office as well as oversaw academic and compliance initiatives. Potter also served as sport administrator for the men's and women's soccer programs.
Potter spent five years as Assistant AD for Internal Operations and Compliance, overseeing and managing the overall internal operations of the athletic department. Potter serves as the departmental and campus expert on NAIA eligibility and compliance matters including the development and oversight of departmental compliance programs. Potter also serves as the Title IX coordinator for the athletic office.
He recently served as the inaugural president for the newly formed Athletics Compliance Administrators Association (ACAA) within the NAIA. He played an integral role in creating and forming the compliance administrator position within the NAIA, a position up to that point had not been officially recognized by the membership. Potter currently serves at the Compliance Eligibility Chair for the Continental Athletics Conference (CAC).
Potter came to GGC from Augusta University (Georgia), where he served as the Assistant AD for Compliance and Academics. During his stint in the NCAA, Potter was a member of several regional and national committees, including serving as the Southeast Representative for the National Compliance Administrators Association (NAAC).
Potter began his career in intercollegiate athletics at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), overseeing the advisement and academic progress of student-athletes from the football and basketball programs.
Potter holds a bachelor's in communication studies and master's in counselor education from Clemson University. He earned his education specialist degree in educational leadership and attained a Doctorate of Education in higher education administration from Georgia Southern University.
As a former high school and college athlete, Potter is no stranger to athletic programs. He was a four-year letter winner on Clemson's Track and Field team, a first-team All-ACC selection in the high hurdles and a part of five ACC championship teams during his career.
Potter and his wife, Brittany, are both Gwinnett County natives. They have a daughter named Ella and a son named Wyatt.
