Potomac names Anthony Mills as new head boys basketball coach

Anthony Mills always considered the Potomac High School boys basketball coaching position an ideal opportunity.

Mills graduated from the Dumfries-based school in 2005 and was a member of the 2004 Group AAA state finalist that finished 29-1. But as he rose up the coaching ranks to run the Battlefield girls program first followed by boys jobs at King George and Colonial Forge, Mills never knew for sure if the chance would come to take over at Potomac any time soon.

Even when Keith Honore stepped down in March after 16 seasons as the Panthers’ coach, Mills kept an open mind about stepping in as Honore’s successor. Mills had been successful in his four years at Colonial Forge and looked forward to maintaining that success for years to come.

Then he interviewed for the Potomac opening and everything came full circle when principal Brandon Boles asked Mills what Potomac meant to him. The question caught Mills off guard. He teared up as he contemplated his answer.

There was joy. He’d return to a place where he built so many friendships and where he enjoyed his time as a student and athlete. And there was history, something Mills understood first hand. With three state titles, Potomac is Prince William County’s most successful boys basketball program. Mills wanted nothing more than to maintain that tradition.

He responded to Boles’ inquiry as best he could without taking up too much time so they could move on to the next question. But in that moment, Mills knew more than ever he belonged back at his alma mater if Potomac offered him the position. When Potomac did just that, Mills readily accepted.

“I’m not going to take any job to leave Forge,” Mills said. “I’m coming back home.”

Potomac wanted to keep its next coach in house if it found the right person. Mills, one of four who interviewed for the job, checked all the boxes and is the latest Potomac graduate to return to his alma mater as a head coach. The others are Jajuan Johnson (football), Brian Blanton (baseball), Jeff Foy (track and field) and Vince Villanueva (girls soccer).

“His passion for Potomac really showed through,” said Potomac activities director Melissa Bankert.

At Colonial Forge, Mills led the Eagles to three regional appearances and one region title. In four seasons at Battlefield, Mills went 77-26 and led the Bobcats to their first state tournament.

Mills is Potomac’s fifth boys basketball coach since the school opened in 1979. Honore took over for his mentor Kendall Hayes for the 2006-07 season. In 21 seasons, Hayes went 423-116 with one state title and nine state tournament appearances overall.

Honore led the Panthers to the 5A state championships in 2014 and 2016 and a Class 6 state runner-up finish in 2021. Potomac also won six regional titles, 12 district/conference regular-season titles and 11 district/conference tournament titles under Honore, while reaching states eight times.

Potomac has not recorded a losing record since going 6-15 in the 1984-85 season. Hayes took over the following season.

Mills said he wants to keep the coaching staff intact. He plans to bring Morgan Lindsay with him from Colonial Forge and he will retain his brother Adrian, a holdover from Honore’s staff.

The two siblings last coached together as assistants at Woodbridge. Now, they will team up again.

“I’m still processing,” Mills said. “But I’m smiling ear to ear.”