ATLANTA, Ga. (March 18, 2003) -- The Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) and RUSSELL ATHLETIC have selected Bill Watson, head coach at Pikeville University, as the 2003 RUSSELL ATHLETIC/WBCA NAIA National Coach of the Year. Watson becomes the 21st coach in history to receive this accolade, which has been selected by the WBCA since 1983. Watson is one of six WBCA National Coaches of the Year selected by the WBCA, which also names winners for each of the other four WBCA collegiate divisions (NCAA Divisions I, II, III, Junior College/Community College) plus the High School division.

"RUSSELL ATHLETIC would like to congratulate Pikeville University head coach Bill Watson for being named the NAIA Coach of the Year," said Rod McGeachy, Vice President of Marketing for Russell Athletic. "RUSSELL ATHLETIC knows that attaining the respect of ones peers is the highest accolade a coach can receive."

Watson is in his sixth season as head coach of the Lady Bears after four years as an assistant in the men's program. During his first season, the Lady Bears were KIAC Champions, played in the NAIA National Tournament for the first time and produced the school's first 20-win season. Watson was named 1997-98 and 1999-2000 Coach of the Year in the KIAC, and this year was co-coach of the year in the Mid-South Conference, an honor he shared with Georgetown's Susan Johnson.

Watson will be honored at the 2003 Russell Athletic/WBCA Coach of the Year Luncheon at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, April 7th at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis. The Russell Athletic/WBCA Coach of the Year Luncheon is part of the 2003 WBCA National Convention held in conjunction with the NCAA Division I Women's Final Four in Atlanta.

Founded in 1981, the WBCA promotes women's basketball by unifying coaches at all levels to develop a reputable identity for the sport and to foster and promote the development of the game in all of its aspects as an amateur sport for women and girls. For more information about the WBCA please check out our website at www.wbca.org.