By Barnett Wright
The Birmingham Times
Fred Watson, Miles College head basketball coach and assistant athletic director, has been named interim AD to replace Reginald Ruffin who announced this week that he was leaving to become AD and head football coach at Tuskegee University.
A search for the next head football coach is underway.
“Coach Watson has led the Miles college basketball team through multiple winning seasons with his hard work, dedication and successful recruiting efforts,” said Bobbie Knight, Miles College President. “… I am confident that Coach Watson will continue to lead the Miles College athletic program with the same standard of excellence throughout this transition.”
Watson said, “I am extremely grateful to President Knight and the Board of Trustees for this incredible opportunity and their trust in me. The commitment to the comprehensive pursuit of academic excellence and unwavering support of athletics is what brought me to Miles College. I look forward to building on the amazing things that are taking place at the college and within the athletic department under the leadership of President Knight.”
Watson is in his third season as assistant athletic director and head men’s basketball coach.
Prior to coaching at Miles, Watson spent 16 seasons as coach at his alma mater, Benedict College in Columbia, South Carolina, and consistently had his teams among the elite in the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) and on the national level.
Watson has a bachelor of science degree in therapeutic recreation from Benedict College and a Masters of Sports Management and Administration from American Public University in Charles Town, West Virginia. He is currently a Doctoral Candidate in Sports Leadership.
