Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts — Pete Watson has been appointed Director of Men’s and Women’s Track and Field and Cross Country at Boston College. Watson comes to Heights after spending the past three seasons as a men’s cross-country and long-distance coach at the University of Texas.
“We are thrilled to welcome Pete Watson to the Boston College Athletics family,” said William V. Campbell, Director of Athletics. Blake James“Pete’s pedigree as a dynamic leader, championship coach and elite recruiter, combined with his vision for the men’s and women’s programs, make him an ideal choice as the new Director of Athletics and Cross Country. ”
Watson played an integral role in the revival of the Texas track, leading the Longhorns to the 2022 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championship. Texas Distancescope accounted for 24 of his 47 points on the team en route to the Indoor National Championship. Texas distance medley his relay set the third fastest time in NCAA history, winning in 9:23.73. Watson was named the 2022 NCAA Division I Men’s Indoor Track and Field National Assistant Coach of the Year by the USTFCCCA. Outdoors, Texas finished as a national runner-up in his 2022 NCAA Championship.
In this past cross-country season, Watson led the Longhorns to the 2021 NCAA South Central Regional Team Championship, the school’s best NCAA championship finish since 2013, placing 14th. The men’s cross-country team earned automatic qualification to the NCAA Championship, including two of his NCAA South Central regional titles in each of his three seasons with Austin.
In total, Watson has coached 18 NCAA All-Americans, 18 NCAA Athletics qualifiers, and 12 Big 12 Conference individual champions in Texas.
“I would like to thank Blake James I can’t wait to get started for this opportunity,” said Watson. “Throughout the process, JM Caparo, Leshawna Cobb, and the whole administration was so impressive and welcoming. I am honored that they believed in the vision of the program that I presented. Boston College is a world-class institution located in one of the world’s greatest cities. We can and will do great things with BC. ”
Prior to attending the University of Texas, Watson spent six seasons (2012-2018) at the University of Virginia as head men’s cross-country and assistant track and field coach. With the Cavaliers, Watson has coached 27 All-American players and he has 39 All-ACC winners, 6 individual ACC champions, and 1 of his NCAA champions (Henry Wynne, mile, 2016). The UVA men’s cross-country earned him two titles (2012, 2014) in the NCAA Southeast Region, and for his efforts, Watson won the 2014 NCAA Southeast Region He was named Cross Country Coach of the Year. Selected for the year. The Virginia Harriers finished in the top four in the ACC Conference Meet and in the top 22 in the NCAA Championship in each of their six seasons. Foose’s best result in the cross-country championships was in 2017, when he finished 16th overall.
Watson also served as Head of Men’s and Women’s Cross Country and Assistant Athletics Coach in North Carolina (2009-12), helping revitalize the Tar Heels long distance team. According to Flotrack.com, Watson, who signed into the highest-rated recruiting class in 2010, during his time at UNC, he coached four of his NCAA All-Americans and six of his NCAA qualifiers. . He began his college coaching career with Auburn in 2005 and spent his four seasons with the Tigers. During his time on the Auburn coaching staff, the Tigers finished on the podium three times at the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field Championships, including the National Championships in 2006. He finished his 11th NCAA career in cross-country and track. All-American and coached his five SEC Individual Champions.
Watson graduated from West Virginia in 2001, where he was a volunteer coach. He hails from London, Ontario, where he represented Canada in 2000 and 2001, where he won a bronze medal in the 5,000 m at the 2001 Canadian Athletics Championships. Watson and his wife Christine married in 2004.
