Head Women's Basketball Coach
Hometown: Davidson, NC

The Value of Teamwork
Annette Watts has been coaching great women’s basketball teams for 20 years—at the high school level, at N.C. State under legendary coach the late Kay Yow, and at Davidson since 2001. As a child, Watts was active in tennis, track and showing horses—but when she discovered basketball in fifth grade, she’d found her niche. “I liked having teammates. I liked having people to bounce ideas off of. And I liked knowing that I had their backs and they had mine.”

Honoring Responsibilities
Watts grew up in rural Greeneville, Tenn. and frequently helped out at her grandparents’ farm down the road. “It was fun, but it was hard work! You had responsibilities, and my parents never let me let anyone down.” It’s a philosophy Watts stands by. “On a team, you stick with it. When I’m recruiting students for Davidson, I look for people who are strong enough to come here, and people who are going to stick with it.”

If You’re Playing Women’s Basketball at Davidson…
“I’m going to run you tough. We’ve got two games a week—and we practice six days a week, 2-1/2 hours a day. And that’s after you spend time in class and doing your homework!” Watts’ aspirations for her team are simple. “First: Be better today than you were yesterday. Second: Have fun.” Finally, “Play to win.”

The Coach as Teacher
Watts spent four years playing guard for East Tennessee State University. But her love for coaching was born early, as it gave her an opportunity to combine two things she loved—basketball and teaching. “The day I started playing basketball, I knew I wanted to coach. Teachers were the people you saw in church. They coached your softball team, they came to your horse shows. They so mattered to me; they helped me go places.”

High Heels on the Hard Court
“It’s not easy being a woman in athletics. I want to show that you can be who you are. Plus, I like putting on a suit and high heels before a game; it’s very comfortable, and it helps me get organized, it helps me be focused. Besides, when I stamp my foot, it’s louder when I’m wearing high heels!”