New London — The head water polo coach at Connecticut College was placed on administrative leave Wednesday following his arrest in New London Tuesday on drug possession charges.

JJ A. Addison, 36, of 35 Union St., Apt. 423, was observed by undercover officers involved in what was believed to be a street-level narcotics transaction in the area of 66 Jay St., police said.

An officer detained the alleged seller and the second officer followed and stopped the vehicle Addison was driving. Police said they recovered a small quantity of a substance that tested positive as crack cocaine and several loose pills identified as oxycodone. Police also said Addison was driving with a suspended license at the time of the incident.

Addison was charged with two counts of possession of narcotics and driving with a suspended license. He was released on $2,500 non-surety bond and is due to appear April 22 in New London Superior Court.

A spokesman from Connecticut College said Addison is on administrative leave pending the outcome of a review of the matter.

Addison is in his 11th season as the head men's and women's water polo coach at the college, according to the college’s website.