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CHATTANOOGA (WRCB) -- Ralph Potter lived and breathed McCallie football for decades.

He's apparently ready to do it again.

The former Blue Tornado player and head coach has agreed to return to the Chattanooga school after five seasons at Brentwood Academy.

"While I have had the opportunity to coach at several fine institutions over the last 25 years, my time at BA has provided clarity to my own goals and strengths," Potter said in a statement. "With this in mind, it is with great pleasure and excitement that I am returning to McCallie.

"McCallie's unique approach to the development of young men as leaders defined by honor, truth and duty fits my own personal mission."

A 1981 graduate of McCallie, Potter played quarterback for the Blue Tornado as well as the  hometown Chattanooga Mocs. His father, the late Pete Potter, served as McCallie's head coach for 20 years.

He started his coaching career at rival Baylor, where he led the Red Raiders to the state quarterfinals in his third and final season as head coach. He took over as McCallie's head coach in 1997 to begin a ten-year run with his alma mater. During that ten-year span, the Blue Tornado went 76-37 and won the program's lone Division II-AA state championship (2001).

In 2007, Potter accepted an offer to be head coach and athletic director at Brentwood Academy. He found similar success with the Eagles, going 47-16 with a pair of state runner-up finishes over the past five years.

"I am grateful to Curt Masters and Brentwood Academy for the opportunity to coach football and lead the athletic department for five years. It has been an honor to work with him and with so many players and coaches," Potter said.

During that same period since Potter's departure, McCallie has struggled to a 24-30 overall record and failed to win more than six games in a season. The Blue Tornado also went 2-4 against rival Baylor in that stretch, and 0-5 against Brentwood Academy.

Athletic director Bubba Simmons took over as head coach in 2010, replacing former Potter assistant Rick Whitt, and finished 5-6 overall with a 24-17 playoff win over Battle Ground Academy.

"I feel the football program is moving in the right direction, and I enjoyed the opportunity to lead it," said Simmons. "However, in my position as athletic director, I wouldn't be serving this school if I ignored the opportunity that hiring Ralph Potter offers us.

"He's a great football mind who has already once led this team to the top, and we believe he can do it again."

Our media partners at the Times Free Press report the 48-year-old Potter's current contract with Brentwood Academy runs through March 30, and he will assist the school in its coaching search if asked.