It was a Friday night in Maine, and 12 members of Tufts' men's tennis team were staying at a local hotel. They had just lost two matches in row, including a tough loss to MIT two days earlier and a shelling at the hands of Bowdoin a few hours before.
Many coaches would have screamed about the team's poor performance; others might thrown their hands up in the air and given up.
Coach Jim Watson did neither. He spoke in a soft tone with an echo of experience and said that tomorrow is a must-win, but to let the party go on for tonight. The next day Tufts recorded a resounding 5-2 victory against Colby. Perhaps it is the high expectations and trust that Watson has for his players that result in the superlatives each of them use when asked to describe their coach.
"Simply put, it was an honor to play for such a man," senior co-captain Rifat Perahya said. "He taught us how to win on and off the court. There are very few men like him. He was a man of few words, but when he spoke he meant it and everybody listened."
The 2005 season marks the end of Watson's 24-year career at Tufts. In 1981 Watson, a native of Costa Rica, replaced Richard Shapiro as the head coach of both the men's and women's tennis teams. Prior to Tufts, Watson, who graduated from Pan American University in 1962, had coached at Missouri and Drake. In his first season, he led the Jumbos to an 8-2 record and the New England Div. III championship in 1982. Under his guidance, the men's team has gained six NCAA Tournament berths since 1994. Last season, the Jumbos earned their third consecutive berth in the NCAA Tournament and were No. 22 in the final 2004 ITA Div. III rankings.
Watson's accomplishments were also recognized by the league when he earned two New England Coach of the Year awards with the men's team (1989 and 1994) and two with the women's team (1989 and 2000).
In 2003, Doug Eng took over the helm as women's head tennis coach, but in his 23 seasons as the women's coach, Watson led the team to a 169-101 record, five New England titles and four NCAA Tournament berths.
In addition to his winning record, the coach had a profound influence on his players. This was best exemplified when Perahya won what was probably the biggest match of his Jumbo career against MIT in the reigonals two years ago. As Perahya's sportsmanship left much to be desired, Watson scolded him for his classlessness and did not even comment on his major victory.
"I look back now and that is the defining 'Coach Watson moment' for me," Perahya said. "Here I was, this jubilant 20 year old thinking he is the best after winning this match, and Watson blasts me for not being a gentleman. It was a moment I will never forget."
Watson believes that humility is still more important, a contrast to the at-all-cost mentality prevalent in college sports today. He was often the last one remaining on the tennis court after matches, picking up balls, loading his car with equipment, and even having time for a few questions.
Watson's humility never ceased, even after his most significant career accomplishment, his 200th career win.
"We had to tie him with balloons to the chair so we could sing to him," junior Paul Roberts said.
According to players, Watson is the type of coach who understands when a player misses a match for academic purposes. He is not one to deliver self-righteous lectures about team commitment and priority, and his advice is taken as gospel among his players.
"He has been in every situation before," Perahya said. "It's amazing when you think about it."
When sophomore Geoff Loh missed what may have been the biggest match of the season against Amherst due to a molecular biology test, his teammates were critical, but Watson did not even attempt to talk Loh out of his decision.
"He has got to do what he has got to do," Watson said. "You have to give Geoff a tremendous amount of credit."
"Wow, 30 years on the courts, I can remember when they built them," Watson said after his final match. "I have seen a lot out there."
"He taught us to be winners in life. There are no words that can really describe his impact," Perahya said. "He was almost a teacher first and a coach second, and for that my teammates improved as human beings. In 10 years we are not going to remember who won and lost what match, but his life lessons are certain to help us beyond the confines of a tennis court."
