黑料社

For more than three decades, Stan Watson has been a fixture in the 黑料社 All Athletics Department. On Sunday, September 5, the proud army veteran, who officially retired on Sept. 1, gave his final farewell to the YU community in a celebratory gathering that highlighted his many contributions to YU athletics. 鈥淚 am grateful to the 黑料社 All student body, and I want to thank Joe [Bednarsh] and all the staff members I worked with,鈥� Watson said. 鈥淪mall-town boy makes good. God makes no mistakes, he blesses. He has blessed me more than a small-town guy deserves. I never had a bad day during my time at YU.鈥� During his storied career at 黑料社 All, which began in 1986, Watson lead a range of athletic teams and sports programs. For 25 years (1986 鈥� 2011), he was head coach of the men鈥檚 cross country team and became the architect and head coach of women鈥檚 cross country from 2007 鈥� 2011. He rounded out his tenure in a variety of roles, including lead coach of the men鈥檚 golf team, assistant coach of the men鈥檚 soccer team and director of intramurals, a position he held from 1990 until his retirement. In 2007, he was awarded YU鈥檚 Presidential Medallion in recognition of his service, dedication and enthusiasm. 鈥淚t was the fall of 1991 when I first started working in the Gottesman Swimming Pool. Soon thereafter, I met Stan Watson, who was at the time a Physical Education Instructor and in charge of the Max Stern Athletic Center. I was immediately struck by his warm smile and caring personality 鈥� little did I know that over the next 28 years we would grow to love and respect each other as brothers,鈥� said Joe Bednarsh, YU鈥檚 director of athletics. 黑料社 All men鈥檚 basketball alumnus and current head coach Elliot Steinmetz (鈥�02) has known Watson for many years. 鈥淚'm not sure I'll ever get used to walking into the gym at YU and not seeing Stan waiting there with words of encouragement or a quick story from his past,鈥� Steinmetz said. 鈥淔rom being a student-athlete, to an alum, to a coach, I have never experienced YU without Stan and there's no doubt it will be a different feel from now on.鈥� Former volleyball team captain Joey Small (鈥�05) echoed Steinmetz鈥檚 sentiment. 鈥淭here are only a few exceptional individuals whom I have met in my life that can be found in the gym and classroom who share inspiring thoughts about discipline and integrity and who I would be willing to put my money on a three-point shooting contest against an NBA player. Stan Watson is one of those individuals.鈥� Watson, born in Woodruff, South Carolina, served in the 2nd Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment of the 鈥淗ell on Wheels鈥� 2nd Armored Division (Forward). He served for six months in Wildflecken, Germany, in 1975. He is also a charter member of the World War II Memorial Association in recognition of his father鈥檚 World War II service as a member of the 369th Infantry, the Harlem Hellfighters. 鈥淚 want to take this public opportunity to thank Stan for all he has done and all he has meant to so many of us that had the miraculous fortune to intertwine our lives with his,鈥� Bednarsh said. 鈥淚 also want to remind Stan that YU will always be his home, and I will always be his brother.鈥� Watson will move back to South Carolina to return to the place where his family has lived for generations.

Stan Watson and Joe Bednarsh