Ventures Winter 2020-2021 | Page 4

AROUND THE QUAD

In Memoriam : Dick Watts

On October 25 , Stevenson University lost an individual who was truly iconic of Mustang athletics and foundational to what SU has become in DIII sports . Richard “ Dick ” Watts passed away at the age of 92 . He served as VJC / Stevenson ’ s Director of Physical Education and later Assistant to the Athletic Director from 1990 to 2013 .
“ Dick Watts represents the spirit of service and commitment to innovation that is the core of Stevenson University ,” said President Elliot Hirshman . “ We are grateful for his legendary accomplishments in moving the university and our athletics programs forward .”
“ Dick was truly essential to the creation of our athletic program ,” said Director of Athletics Brett Adams . “ As the founding father of team sports , Dick helped form a club lacrosse program at Villa Julie and later helped Carol Zimmerman complete the application for NCAA membership . Dick was the force behind our many ‘ firsts ’— our first field , our first scoreboard , our first teams . Without Dick Watts , to have the program we have today with 700 varsity athletes and 200 club sport athletes would not have been possible .”
The architect behind the university ’ s physical education , intramural , and intercollegiate athletic programs , Watts spent 25 years at Stevenson , from 1988 to 2013 , first as a consultant to VJC President Carolyn Manuszak then later serving as a Physical Education instructor , Director of Physical Education , and Assistant to the Athletic Director . He was instrumental in educating the administration the importance of athletics to the university while assisting with the application and acceptance into the NCAA as a member of Division III , which came in 1994 .
Watts was a member of the inaugural class of the Stevenson University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2014 , and in 2015 the Hall of Fame was named in his honor .
Before arriving at Villa Julie , Watts was the head men ’ s lacrosse coach at UMBC ( 1971-93 ) and served as the school ’ s first athletic director from 1967 to 1985 . He guided the Retrievers to the NCAA Division II national championship in 1980 and totaled 178 victories during his career . A 1956 graduate of Johns Hopkins , he was a two-time All-American as a defenseman for the Blue Jays .
Watts is a member of no less than five Halls of Fame . In addition to the Stevenson Hall of Fame that bears his name , he is a member of the US Lacrosse National Hall of Fame , the UMBC Hall of Fame , the US Lacrosse Greater Baltimore Chapter Hall of Fame , and the Intercollegiate Men ’ s Lacrosse Coaches Association Hall of Fame , to which he was inducted in 2019 .
“ Those who are fortunate to have been around Dick and be mentored by him are saddened by his passing , but we will be forever grateful for the love and guidance he gave to us and to Stevenson ,” said Adams .
2 | VENTURES / WINTER 2020-2021