Mississippi Valley State reinstates suspended coach Chico Potts
Five days after second-year Mississippi Valley State coach Chico Potts was acquitted on domestic violence charges, the university decided it had no reason to punish him further.
Mississippi Valley State reinstated the previously suspended Potts on Tuesday as head coach of its basketball program.
"I am thankful the legal process has concluded and look forward to returning to my responsibilities," Potts said in a statement. "I look forward to working with the students and fellow coaches as we prepare for the upcoming season."
University officials originally suspended Potts with pay on July 12 after he was arrested because of a domestic altercation with his wife earlier this month. Associate head coach Marcus Thomas replaced Potts on an interim basis as the school awaited the outcome of the case.
Bringing Potts back represents a show of faith by Mississippi Valley State in a coach who struggled to a 5-23 record in his first season at the helm of one of Division I's most cash-strapped institutions.
Potts, a Mississippi native who played at LSU and Delta State, was the primary assistant coach on a 2011-12 Mississippi Valley State team that swept the SWAC regular season and tournament titles and reached the NCAA tournament. He landed the head coaching job after predecessor Sean Woods left for Morehead State but inherited APR issues and a roster depleted from graduation and transfers.
The chances of Potts turning things around at Mississippi Valley State next season took a hit this week when wing Davon Usher announced he was transferring to Delaware for his final season of college eligibility. The Baltimore native led the SWAC in scoring at 18.8 points per game and also grabbed 6.1 rebounds and shot nearly 40 percent from behind the arc.
Potts has yet to address the media since his arrest, so what caused the altercation that led to his arrest remains unclear. Also uncertain is whether his wife, Kimberly Potts, will remain at Mississippi Valley State, where she works as a technical assistant in the employee department.
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