Phillylacrosse.com, Posted 6/14/10
From Press Releases
Reid Watson, a veteran of 43 years in the coaching ranks and a part-time assistant with University of Delaware women’s lacrosse program for the last six seasons, passed away on Sunday morning.
Watson, a resident of Kimberton, PA, was 82. He was hospitalized recently after being diagnosed with leukemia last fall. There will be no funeral services.
His role as a part-time assistant with former Delaware head coach Kim Ciarrocca (Plymouth Whitemarsh) was limited this past spring due to his illness.
“He was a mentor and my best friend and was like a father to me,” said Ciarrocca, who retired as head coach of the Blue Hen program following the recently completed 2010 campaign. “He had such a positive influence on so many young people and taught them not so much about lacrosse, but about life.
“He always gave the big speeches before our games and focused on looking in the mirror and believing in yourself. It was amazing how he talked on their level and got their attention. He was very philosophical and put things in the right perspective. And he could outwork anyone.”
Watson had assisted Ciarrocca for 11 seasons when she served as head coach at Temple University from 1993 until 2004 and remained with her when she took the head coaching position with the Blue Hens in 2005. Overall he helped Ciarrocca post a record of 184-127 over those 17 seasons, a mark that included 12 winning seasons, six conference championships, and seven NCAA?Tournament appearances.
In his six seasons at Delaware, he has helped the Blue Hens to a combined record of 51-50, including back-to-back 11-6 marks in both 2007 and 2008 and a 10-7 record in 2009. Delaware, which prior to 2009, had advanced to the Colonial Athletic Association semifinals three of the last four seasons, advanced to the finals in 2009 with an 8-6 win in the semifinals over Old Dominion. They would come up just short in the finals against Towson, 8-7.
Watson had coached lacrosse programs at every level and had sponsored lacrosse clinics for over 20 years. He had on-field coaching responsibilities and coached the Blue Hen goalkeepers, including Jessica Cerveny, who earned first team All-CAA honors in 2008 and 2009.
A 1951 graduate of Ursinus, Watson coached the Perkiomen (Pa.) School lacrosse team for 13 years prior to retiring in 1992. From 1972-79, he was the director of athletics and chair of the physical education department at Girard College in Philadelphia. He also has taught at Kimberton Farms School, Springfield-Montco High School, Ursinus College, and the Woods School.
He and his wife, Margery, a well-known name in lacrosse who is a member of the Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter of the US Lacrosse Hall of Fame, have five children, including two children who competed in the NCAA Tournament.
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