LMU BASKETBALL NEWS

LINCOLN MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY

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Sports Release                                                                                                                                 March 6, 2008

Coaching Career Spanning Four Decades Comes To An End

HARROGATE, TN – On Wednesday evening, playing on the road in the first round of the Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Men’s Basketball Tournament, Lincoln Memorial University’s Hugh Watson brought to a close a career in coaching that has been spent on the sidelines of a game that he found he loved as a child. 

Wednesday’s 96-76 loss to No. 1 SAC Men’s Basketball Tournament seed Lenoir-Rhyne College was no surprise to most basketball fans throughout the conference.  In fact, the Railsplitters entered their third meeting of the year with the Bears as the tournament’s No. 8 seed and were expected to fall to Lenoir-Rhyne.  For Watson however, the hope that his college coaching career would extend one more game still loomed despite taking on the leagues top team.

The Railsplitters made a game of it until approximately midway through the second half when the Bears extended their lead to 14 points at the 10:10 mark.  As the clock ticked through its final minutes, it was clear the night would be Watson’s last as head coach of the Railsplitters and Lenoir-Rhyne eventually came away with the 96-76 victory.

Since 1984 when Watson was the Head Coach at Hiwassee College, his record through last night’s game with Lenoir-Rhyne College totals 442 wins and 274 losses and includes stops at not only Hiwassee and Lincoln Memorial, but also at the University of Idaho, Columbia High School in Tennessee and North Idaho College.  His career in the coaching ranks dates back to as early as the mid 1960’s and has been long and illustrious.  In four years at the helm of the Railsplitter program, Watson’s best season came during the 2006-07 campaign when he guided Lincoln Memorial to a 13-15 finish.

Now Watson will embark on a new stage in his life.  While he and his wife reside in Harrogate, four grandchildren will keep them traveling throughout the state of Tennessee and Watson hopes to pursue his passion for hunting and fishing now that he will have more time to devote to the outdoors.  “In the four years I have been head coach here, I have made many friends at this University and in the community,” said Watson.  “Right now I have no career plans.  What I plan to do is to get out my boat, fish a lot, and to enjoy retirement.”

The Railsplitters end the 2007-08 season with an overall record of 8-20 and lose seniors Ronnie Jones (Atlanta, GA), Brett Warner (Murfreesboro, TN) and Emmanuel Njomo (Fairfax, VA) to graduation.  The Lincoln Memorial University athletics department is presently conducting a search for Watson’s successor and hopes to name a new head coach of the men’s basketball program in the coming weeks.

-LMU-

For additional comments please contact,
Men's Head Coach: Hugh Watson
Phone: (423) 869-6240