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Watson of Miles Reaches 400 Career Basketball Victories

A.D. Drew • Jan 08, 2023

Watson of Miles Reaches 400 Career Basketball Victories

January 7, 2023 | Atlanta, GA
A.D. Drew; Black College Sports Network

With Miles victory today over Lane College, 70-64, Head Coach Fred Watson earned his 400th career victory.   Three Golden Bears scored in double digits in the win, lead by Rodney Battle with a 16 points, six rebounds, and four assists effort (all team highs).  Eddie Smith contributed 15 points and four rebounds, along with Mykayle Carter's 12 points and three rebounds.  Miles got off to a slow start, trailing most of the first half, until a three-pointer by Carter gave them their first lead with 4:46 remaining in the half.  Miles would extend the lead to eight, before closing out the half with a four point lead, 35-31.  

The Golden Bears would continue to extend their lead, ultimately to nine on a jumper by Rodney Battle, forcing a Lane timeout with 12:55 left in the second half.  The Dragons would go on a 21-4 run over the next seven minutes, forcing a Miles timeout at 5:39 remaining in the ballgame.  Miles would close the game out with a 17-3 run to secure the victory. 

On the day, Watson earned his 80 victory with the Golden Bears.  His first 320 victories occurred at Benedict College,   his alma mater.  
Fred Watson wins 400th career games

Watson, a graduate of Benedict in 1999, became the head coach at his alma mater, just three years later in 2002. That 2002-2003 season would be significant, as that would be the only season that a Watson coached team has finished under .500 with a 11-14 record. The following season in 2003-2004, Watson earned his first of his eleven 20-win seasons, going 20-9 that season. Watson, 400-172 (.699), in his 21st season, has earned seven SIAC Tournament championships, five SIAC Regular Season titles, and two SIAC West Division titles. The seven-time SIAC Coach of the Year has seen his teams earn 12 NCAA South Region Tournament berths, with one Sweet 16 appearance. Just as impressive, Watson has seen 85 percent of his student-athletes graduate.


Since coming to Miles in the 2018-2019 season, Watson has won 20 games each season and has led Miles to an NCAA Tournament berth (excluding the 2020 Covid season, which he did not coach). In the 2018-2019 campaign, he led Miles to its first SIAC title since 1975 and first-ever NCAA Tournament selection. Watson has the best winning percentage in Miles’ basketball history entering the season at .806 and currently ranks third on the school’s all-time win list with 80 wins.  Watson should surpass Alfred Baker (85-125) this season, leaving Arthur Wilkins (114-67) as the final coach to pass on the school’s all-time win list.


Watson currently sits second on the active wins list by an HBCU coach at a Black College with his 400 victories. Poore, with 389 victories at WVSU, is currently third on the list. Steve Joyner, of Johnson C. Smith, tops the current active list with 581 wins (581-253, .697). Watson also has the second highest winning percentage among current HBCU coaches with his .699 winning percentage, trailing Lonnie blow of Virginia State’s .702 percentage (233-99, 12 seasons).  
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