THE OFFICIAL SITE OF THE
SCENIC CIRCLE RAMS
CANTERBURY RAMPAGES 2003

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• Second season as head coach of the Rams after a successful 11 win – 5 loss record and playoff berth

• This earned Watson and the Rams Coaching staff the 2002 BK League Coach of the Year Award

• The CEO of the Rams and is responsible for managing all of the Rams operations

• Is the fuel (and the fuel pump!) that keeps the Rams engine running

• Has an exhaustive knowledge of the game after going through the US system

• Coach at Irish National Basketball Camp 1988-90

• Waterford Wildcats (Irish National League) Coach in 1990

• Coached the 1998 Checkers Men Premier Team in the Christchurch club basketball

• Canterbury Knights Assistant in 1999

• Canterbury Rams Assistant Coach in 2000

• Stand-out at Bucknell University from 1985-1989 - Captain 1987-89

• Helped team to NCAA appearances in 1987 and 1989 where they faced Georgetown and Syracuse in the first rounds

• After college travelled to the UK and played with the Waterford Wildcats (Ireland) in 1990 and Hemel Hempsted Royals (England) in 1991

• Upon arrival in NZ trained with the Rams and played on-and-off as a replacement American for 20 NBL Games: 1996, 1998, 2000-01

• Hustling style of play earned him the nickname “Mr Intensity"

• Scored the game winning basket in a home game victory vs Otago and led the Rams in steals with 2.6 per game in 2000

• Born in Detroit, Michigan, USA

• Married to Leslie and proud father of three: John “Buzz” (6), Noah (3) and Stephen (2)

• Attended Archbishop Walsh High School (1984)

• Earned a BS & MS in Marketing from Bucknell University and Ph.D in Marketing from Pennsylvania State University

• Re-located to New Zealand with Leslie in 1995

• Works as a Marketing Lecturer at the University of Canterbury

• On the board of directors of the NBL

• Became a New Zealand Citizen in March 2001

• Had a deep ‘love for the game’ since an early age - received a basketball when baptised!

• Father was most influential person on his career “he was my coach and mentor”

• Father was captain at University of Detroit, which was ranked inside the top 20 of the NCAA

• Brother was a player at Bowling Green University (1988-91) and played professionally in France (1991-95) and Taiwan (1996)

• Enjoys playing with kids, skiing and travel and dreaming up new projects

• First Job: Set up a lawn mowing business at age 12

• Favourite Music: R & B (old school!)

• Favourite Movies: Dead Poets Society, Christmas Vacation

• Personal Motto: “Never give up.”