Sid Watson

For the English football (soccer) player, see Sid Watson (footballer, born 1927).

Sid Watson
Biographical details
Born(1932-05-04)May 4, 1932
Andover, Massachusetts, U.S.
DiedApril 25, 2004(2004-04-25) (aged 71)
Naples, Florida, U.S.
Alma materNortheastern
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1959–1983Bowdoin College
Head coaching record
Overall327–210–14 (.606)
Accomplishments and honors
Championships
1969 ECAC 2 Champion
1970 ECAC 2 Champion
1971 ECAC 2 Champion
1971 ECAC 2 Tournament Champion
1972 ECAC 2 Champion
1975 ECAC 2 Tournament Champion
1976 ECAC 2 Tournament Champion
1978 ECAC 2 East Champion
1978 ECAC 2 East Tournament Champion
1980 ECAC 2 East Champion
Awards
1955 NFL kickoff return yards leader
1966 UPI New England Coach of the Year
1969 Clark Holder Award
1970 Edward Jeremiah Award
1970 Clark Holder Award
1971 Edward Jeremiah Award
1976 UPI Eastern Small College Coach of the Year
1978 Edward Jeremiah Award
1983 Schaeffer Pen Award
2001 Hobey Baker Legends of College Hockey
U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame
Northeastern University Athletic Hall of Fame
Maine Sports Hall of Fame
Andover, Massachusetts Hall of Fame 2005 Massachusetts Hockey Hall of Fame
American football career
No. 39, 41
Position:Halfback
Career information
High school:Punchard (MA)
College:Northeastern
Career history
Career NFL statistics
Games played:45
Rushing yards:516
Receiving yards:423
Kick return yards:1,269
Total touchdowns:6
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Sidney John Watson (May 4, 1932 – April 25, 2004) was an American football player and college ice hockey player and coach. He played halfback in the National Football League (NFL) for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Washington Redskins. He played college football at Northeastern University. He was also the head hockey coach at Bowdoin College from 1959 to 1983.

Early life

Watson was born in Andover, Massachusetts and attended Punchard High School.[1]

College career

Watson attended and played football as a running back at Northeastern University, where he averaged more than 100 rushing yards per game and 7.1 yards per carry during his career.[2] He played on Northeastern's 1951 undefeated team, and was chosen Little All America in 1953 and captained the 1954 team.[3] He still holds Northeastern's school records for most single-season points (74)[2] and held the record for most career points (191) until 1997.[3] In addition to lettering in football for three years, Watson also received one letter in basketball and three in ice hockey.[3]

Professional football career

After graduating from college, Watson played in the National Football League for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1955 to 1957. He then played with the Washington Redskins in 1958.[4]

Hockey coaching career

Watson became co-head coach of the Bowdoin College ice hockey team with C. Nels Corey in 1958.[2] He then became the full head coach in 1959, a position he held until 1983. While coach, he led the Polar Bears to the ECAC 2 playoffs 16 times and won conference championships in 1971, 1975, 1976 and 1978.[4] Watson was awarded the Eddie Jeremiah Memorial Trophy, recognizing the national Small College Coach of the year in 1970, 1971 and 1978.[4] Watson joined the United States Hockey Hall of Fame during 1999.[5] In 2001, he was awarded the prestigious Hobey Baker Legends of College Hockey Award.[6]

Head coaching record

Statistics overview
Season Team Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Bowdoin Polar Bears Independent (1959–1961)
1959–60 Bowdoin 11–11–0
1960–61 Bowdoin 15–5–0
Bowdoin: 26–16–0
Bowdoin Polar Bears (ECAC Hockey) (1961–1964)
1961–62 Bowdoin 11–11–1 10–11–0 16th
1962–63 Bowdoin 6–13–0 5–13–0 23rd
1963–64 Bowdoin 14–8–0 12–8–0 11th
Bowdoin: 31–32–1 27–32–0
Bowdoin Polar Bears (ECAC 2) (1964–1983)
1964–65 Bowdoin 11–10–0 9–5–0 4th
1965–66 Bowdoin 11–8–1 9–3–1 2nd
1966–67 Bowdoin 9–11–0 8–4–0 T–5th
1967–68 Bowdoin 11–9–1 9–5–1 8th
1968–69 Bowdoin 14–6–1 12–3–1 1st
1969–70 Bowdoin 19–3–0 13–0–0 1st ECAC 2 Runner-Up
1970–71 Bowdoin 19–4–1 14–2–0 1st ECAC 2 Champion
1971–72 Bowdoin 17–4–0 14–1–0 1st
1972–73 Bowdoin 14–8–2 11–4–1 6th ECAC 2 Runner-Up
1973–74 Bowdoin 8–14–0 6–8–0 14th
1974–75 Bowdoin 14–9–0 11–5–0 4th ECAC 2 Champion
1975–76 Bowdoin 18–9–0 13–3–0 3rd ECAC 2 Champion
1976–77 Bowdoin 16–7–0 13–2–0 4th ECAC 2 Quarterfinals
1977–78 Bowdoin 19–6–1 13–3–1 2nd ECAC 2 East Champion
1978–79 Bowdoin 13–12–0 10–7–0 12th ECAC 2 East Quarterfinals
1979–80 Bowdoin 19–5–2 14–2–2 2nd ECAC 2 East Semifinals
1980–81 Bowdoin 14–12–0 11–7–0 11th ECAC 2 East Semifinals
1981–82 Bowdoin 13–12–3 11–8–0 12th ECAC 2 East Quarterfinals
1982–83 Bowdoin 11–13–1 9–8–1 13th ECAC 2 East Quarterfinals
Bowdoin: 270–162–13 210–80–8
Total: 327–210–14

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

Administrator career

After retiring as a coach, Watson served as Bowdoin's Athletic Director. He was also the chairman of the NCAA ice Hockey Rules and Tournament Committee for six years, and served as president, vice president, secretary, treasurer and a member of the board of governors of the American College Hockey Coaches Association.[4]

Legacy

In 1996, Bowdoin dedicated the Sidney J. Watson Fitness Facility in his honor.[2] In 2004, following Watson's death, the Division III Men's Player of the Year Award was renamed the Sid Watson Award.[7] In 2009, Bowdoin named their new ice hockey arena the Sidney J. Watson Arena, which holds approximately 2,300 spectators and is Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified.[8]

Personal life

Watson was married and had five children and 11 grandchildren. He died after suffering a Myocardial infarction in Naples, Florida on April 25, 2004.[9]

References

  1. ^ "Beloved coach Sid Watson dies". The Bowdoin Orient. April 30, 2004. Retrieved August 28, 2015.
  2. ^ a b c d "Inductee Sidney J. Watson". Bowdoin College. Archived from the original on September 5, 2015. Retrieved August 28, 2015.
  3. ^ a b c "Inductee Sidney J. Watson Class of 1956". Northeastern University. Retrieved August 28, 2015.
  4. ^ a b c d "Inductee Sid Watson". U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved August 28, 2015.
  5. ^ "Class of 1999". United States Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved November 28, 2023.
  6. ^ Nichole Gleisner (April 27, 2004). "Obituary; Sidney Watson, NFL player, Bowdoin hockey coach, 71". Boston Herald.
  7. ^ "ACHA D-III Player Award Named for Bowdoin's Legendary Sid Watson :: USCHO.com :: U.S. College Hockey Online". Archived from the original on March 24, 2015.
  8. ^ "Bowdoin Home to Country's First Newly Constructed LEED-Certified Ice Arena". Bowdoin College. July 27, 2009. Retrieved August 28, 2015.
  9. ^ "Sid Watson, 71, Hockey Coach at Bowdoin". The New York Times. April 29, 2004. Retrieved August 28, 2015.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Award Created
Bill Riley Jr.
 Edward Jeremiah Award
1969–70, 1970–71
1977–78 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Hobey Baker Legends of College Hockey Award
2002 		Succeeded by