June 26, 2008
UCF’s Watson to coach CU softball
LAWTON, Oklahoma (June 26) – Cameron University Athletic Director Jim Jackson today filled the final Aggie head coaching vacancy as he tabbed Beth Watson as CU’s new softball skipper. Watson comes from the University of Central Florida (Orlando) where she has been the first assistant coach for the last seven years, ever since UCF instituted the program. She begins work for the Aggies in mid-July.
“I think Beth is an outstanding fit for us,” Jackson said. “She is someone who sees the vision that CU and our department has, and she will be an excellent fit. Beth is a team player and I am ecstatic at what she is bringing to our program.”
Watson is a graduate of Friends University (Wichita, Kansas) where she achieved her undergraduate degree in Science in Health and Physical Education. She then received her graduate degree in Science in Education Administration from Missouri State University (Springfield). Despite spending the last seven years in sunny Orlando, Watson says she is ready to get back to her roots in the Midwest.
“I’m a Midwest person; I appreciate the work ethic in this area and I’m excited about getting back involved with that aspect,” Watson said. “My family is very close to the Oklahoma area and that part excites me. I also feel the excitement around the softball program and where the department and university are headed. It just seems like the right fit both personally and professionally for me.”
At UCF, Watson helped guide the Knights to a victory in last year’s Conference USA Championship and a final national ranking of #29. She also assisted in the coaching of two All-Conference First Team selections, five All-Tournament team selections, and one All-Freshman team selection.
Prior to competing in Conference USA, the UCF Knights were in the Atlantic Sun Conference where Watson helped to lead the team to a conference championship in 2005. In her seven years at UCF, the Knights only once finished below third place in their respective conference.
“Beth has seven solid years of experience as an assistant at Division I, and she and (Head) Coach (Renee) Luers-Gillispie built the UCF softball program up from its inception,” Jackson said. “Last year they made it to the NCAA Regional Finals against the University of Florida. I think that experience is invaluable.”
Before coaching the Knights of UCF, Watson was the head coach at the University of Southern Indiana (Evansville) where she compiled a 204-119 (.632) record. From 1995-2001 the USI Screaming Eagles fielded one All-American player, nine All-Region players, and thirteen All-Conference (Great Lakes Valley Conference) players under Watson.
As a coach, Watson’s focus is primarily on hitting and fielding. Aggie fans know that Cameron has a very potent offense and is coming off a record-setting year in which they set new Lone Star Conference team records for home runs and doubles in a season. The team did commit 101 errors however, and that is something Watson says she is looking forward to working on.
“It’s amazing what the Aggies accomplished the last few years,” Watson said. “I think getting further in the postseason is going to require giving the players the confidence they need in the field. We will try to put them in the best position to succeed, and preparation is what we will do every day in order to gain that confidence.”
Prior to becoming the head coach at USI, Watson was the assistant coach at Missouri State University from 1992-1995 while she completed her graduate degree. From 1988-1992, Watson was the head coach at her alma-mater, the aforementioned Friends University, where she compiled a 102-73 (.583) record. In 1989 she led the Falcons to a Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) regular season title, as well as a tournament championship.
These accolades resulted in Watson being named the KCAC Coach of the Year in 1989. The Falcons repeated as regular season champions in 1990. Friends University is an NAIA school.
“We had an opportunity to bring on a veteran who is proven as a head coach,” Jackson said. “Beth has experienced great success and is taking over a seasoned program. We are not rebuilding this program, and my expectations of Beth are for her to add her expertise. She also has great connections as far as recruiting goes, and I expect her to bring in a high caliber of softball players to the program.”
As mentioned previously, Watson begins her tenure with Cameron University in mid-July. She is taking over for the recently departed Richie Nye who in two years at CU led the Aggies to consecutive postseason appearances. Nye left the Aggies earlier this offseason for family and person reasons.
“Obviously Cameron has a good core of players returning next year; their offensive numbers were so impressive,” Watson said. “I think that my main focus will be to balance that while shoring up the pitching, and then obviously making sure the defense is where it needs to be.”