Perry Watson
Biographical details
Born (1950-04-30) April 30, 1950 (age 76)
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Playing career
1968–1970Henry Ford CC
1970–1972Eastern Michigan
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1979–1991Southwestern HS (MI)
1991–1993Michigan (assistant)
1993–2008Detroit
Head coaching record
Overall258–185 (.582) (college)
Tournaments2–2 (NCAA Division I)
3–3 (NIT)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
2 MCC tournament (1994, 1999)
2 MCC regular season (1998, 1999)
Awards
MCC Coach of the Year (1998)

Perry Watson (born April 30, 1950) is an American college basketball coach from Detroit, Michigan. He played for Eastern Michigan University (where he was a teammate of George Gervin), graduating in 1972.

In 1977, Watson took the head coaching position at Detroit Southwestern High School where he coached, among others, future NBA players Jalen Rose, Voshon Lenard and Howard Eisley. Watson left Southwestern to take a position on Steve Fisher's staff at the University of Michigan in 1991, coinciding with the arrival of the Fab Five of which Rose was a member.

After two years as an assistant under Fisher, Watson was hired as the head coach at the University of Detroit Mercy, where he spent the next 15 seasons. He compiled a record of 258–185, second in school history behind only Bob Calihan. He led the Titans to three Horizon League titles, along with their first NCAA Tournament wins since advancing all the way to the Sweet 16 in 1977.

Watson took an indefinite medical leave of absence in January 2008.[1] He resigned on March 5, 2008.[2] Perry Watson was an important character witness in the University of Michigan basketball scandal.[3][4]

Head coaching record

College

Record table
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Detroit Titans (Midwestern Collegiate Conference / Horizon League) (1993–2008)
1993–94 Detroit 16–13 5–5 4th
1994–95 Detroit 13–15 9–5 4th
1995–96 Detroit 18–11 8–8 T–4th
1996–97 Detroit 16–13 11–5 T–2nd
1997–98 Detroit 25–6 12–2 T–1st NCAA Division I Second Round
1998–99 Detroit 25–6 12–2 1st NCAA Division I Second Round
1999–00 Detroit 20–12 8–6 3rd
2000–01 Detroit 25–12 10–4 2nd NIT Fourth Place
2001–02 Detroit 18–13 11–5 T–2nd NIT Opening Round
2002–03 Detroit 18–12 9–7 T–4th
2003–04 Detroit 19–11 10–6 T–4th
2004–05 Detroit 14–16 9–7 3rd
2005–06 Detroit 16–16 8–8 T–3rd
2006–07 Detroit 11–19 6–10 T–7th
2007–08 Detroit 4–10 0–4
Detroit: 258–185 (.582) 128–84 (.604)
Total: 258–185 (.582)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

References

  1. ^ "UDM Basketball Coach Watson Takes Medical Leave. He is considered one of the greatest coaches in University of Detroit Basketball History, Along with Dick Vitale". University of Detroit Mercy. January 7, 2008. Archived from the original on January 10, 2008. Retrieved January 10, 2008.
  2. ^ "Detroit coach Watson resigns after 15 seasons". ESPN. March 5, 2008. Retrieved January 10, 2008.
  3. ^ Cnockaert, Jim (March 22, 2002). "Accident's effects still felt six years later: Roberson: It changed the athletic department". MLive.com. Ann Arbor News. Archived from the original on August 27, 2002. Retrieved August 13, 2008.
  4. ^ "Ed Martin Revealed: His long and infamous road into Michigan basketball history". The Michigan Daily. May 12, 2003. Retrieved August 13, 2008.