Following up on something that HoopDirt.com first mentioned yesterday (D3 DIRT)…
Montclair State has officially named Justin Potts as their new head basketball coach. Here’s the release:
Justin Potts has been named the Head Men’s Basketball coach at Montclair State University, effective August 19, 2019. He becomes the 18th head coach in the history of the program.
https://montclairathletics.com/news/2019/8/8/justin-potts-named-head-mens-basketball-coach.aspx
Potts comes to Montclair State University after four seasons as the Head Men’s Basketball Coach at Moravian College. He succeeds former head coach Marlon Sears and takes over a Red Hawks program that finished 17-10 during the 2018-19 season before losing in the opening round of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Tournament.
“Justin Potts comes to Montclair State University with outstanding integrity and a proven track record of success as a head coach,” says Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Robert Chesney. “Throughout his coaching career, he has consistently developed the entire student-athlete both on and off the court. This commitment to both academic and athletic excellence makes him the right fit to lead our men’s basketball program.”
“It is an honor to be the next head men’s basketball coach at Montclair State University,” says Potts. “I want to thank Director of Athletics Robert Chesney as well as the search committee for this opportunity. I look forward to getting to work with our student-athletes and building on the foundation that was laid by Coach Sears the last few years. We will compete and work together to represent the University the right way.”
As the head coach of his alma mater, Potts led Moravian to its first two Landmark Conference championships and first NCAA Tournament victory in school history. In each of his final three seasons, the team set the school record for wins. Four players were named to All-Landmark Conference teams over his four seasons, including the conference’s Rookie of the Year, who he recruited.
Prior to Moravian, Potts served as both an assistant coach and as associate head coach at East Stroudsburg University from 2002-2015 where his duties included overseeing recruiting efforts for the NCAA Division II program. During his tenure, the team placed at least one player on an All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) team for 10 consecutive years, including two PSAC Rookies of the Year and one PSAC East Player of the Year. The program also won two PSAC Tournament championships and reached the NCAA Tournament’s Sweet 16.
“Justin will bring a new level of energy and excitement to Red Hawk basketball,” says Chesney. “Coach Sears laid the foundation for long-term success, and we feel Justin will take the program to an even higher and more exciting level.”
Potts will be no stranger to the Panzer Athletic Center having coached in the facility last season when his Greyhounds team participated in the Ollie Gelston Classic winning twice. He will make his debut with the Red Hawks on November 8 against Whitman College in Salem, OR at Willamette University. Potts’ first home game is on December 7 versus Kean University and will return to Moravian on January 4-5 as Montclair State competes in the Steel Club Classic. The Red Hawks will not face-off against the Greyhounds during the tournament, rather playing SUNY Oswego and Ithaca College in the predetermined matchups for the weekend.
