Doug Watts, Head Cross Country/Track & Field Coach

Excellence in coaching and a winning tradition are terms that have become synonymous with Edinboro University cross country coach Doug Watts. Since his arrival at Edinboro in 1969, the Running Scots have experienced nothing but success, producing numerous All-Americans and team championships, as well as four individual cross country champions.

Watts' coaching credentials speak for themselves, including 27 consecutive undefeated seasons and a string of 101 straight dual meet victories. Watts' squads have also produced a total of six national championships, including back-to-back NAIA titles in 1975 and 1976 and consecutive NCAA Division II titles from 1986 through 1988. His teams can also boast of five Division II runner-up trophies, plus finishes of third (twice), fourth, fifth, sixth (twice), seventh, eighth (twice) and ninth. In total, the men's squads have 14 top ten finishes at the national meet in the last 20 years. His women's program, though yet to crown a national champion, has also established itself as one of the premier programs in the NCAA East Region and on the national stage. That includes a third-place finish at the national meet, their highest ever, a year ago. The Edinboro women have now finshed in the top five at the championships for three straight years.

Watts has earned numerous awards from his peers. Last season he was named as the PSAC women's Coach of the Year and both the men's and women's Coach of the Year in the NCAA East Region. In April 1999, Watts was recognized by his peers on the Edinboro University coaching staff as the Edinboro Coach of the Year at the annual Hall of Fame Banquet.

Watts, has an overall dual match record that now stands at a sparkling 135-8 in 31 seasons at the Edinboro helm. In addition, 16 of his Edinboro runners have been U.S. Olympic trial qualifiers.

The much-heralded coach, who has been named National Coach of the Year five times, has published numerous distance running articles for national publications. Twice an Olympic coach nominee, Watts annually conducts a summer pre-season endurance training camp, the Edinboro Olympic Villiage, for young men and women.

A 1964 graduate of the University of Akron with a degree in Health and Physical Education, Watts began his coaching career at Walsh Jesuit High School in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. He introduced a running program at Walsh Jesuit that yielded a two-year record of 19-0 and a district championship.

Doug and his wife Margaret have two children, Wendy and Christopher.

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