Watkins Named Coach Of The Year By Sports Commission
7/30/2004 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field/XC
DENTON - North Texas track and field head coach Rick Watkins was named the 2003-04 Coach of the Year by the Greater Denton Sports Commission at the their 3rd annual banquet. Watkins, in his 11th year at North Texas, has led the Mean Green men and women's track and field programs to three Sun Belt Conference Championships over the past four years.
"It's a great honor to receive this award from the Greater Denton Sports Commission," said Watkins. "I've been really impressed by what the commission has done in helping the city and to win an award like this is really special".
During Watkins tenure at North Texas the men and women's indoor and outdoor programs has set 33 school records. Watkins has also coached 176 all-conference performers, 46 individual conference champions, and 46 NCAA regional or national qualifying marks.
This past season the North Texas outdoor track and field teams finished in second and fourth respectively. The women's team scored 143 points at the outdoor meet, the second highest point total in school history.
Watkins is the second straight North Texas coach to receive the Coach of the Year honor from the sports commission as football coach Darrell Dickey received the award last year.