Fred Watson is headed down I-20 for his next job.
After 16 years as the head men's basketball coach at his alma mater, Watson resigned from Benedict this week and on Wednesday, he was announced as the new head coach at Miles College near Birmingham.
Last season, Watson won his 300th career game and will take a career record of 320-150 (.681 winning percentage) to the Golden Bear program. Watson has had winning seasons for the past 15 consecutive years, eight 20-win campaigns, five SIAC Regular Season titles and five SIAC Tournament championships. He has also ben named the SIAC Coach of the Year six times while leading the Tigers to nine appearances in the NCAA South Region Tournament with one Sweet 16 appearance.
"This is a great opportunity for myself and my family," Watson said in a statement.
"We're excited to join the Miles College family and look forward to embracing the Fairfield and Birmingham communities. Having coached in the SIAC for the past 16 years, I've been impressed by the tremendous support this program has received. We're excited for what this job has the potential to become and we're up to the challenge, not to just develop great athletes but to follow the recipe of (Miles College President) Dr. George T. French, Jr., which is to develop great scholars that will one day become productive citizens."
Watson's last season at Benedict saw him lead the Tigers to a 21-10 overall record and an 11-8 record in the SIAC. The Tigers finished fourth in the East Division. Watson will take over a Miles program that was 7-20 overall and 6-13 in the SIAC. The Golden Bears finished fifth in the West Division.