Beth Watson is in her seventh season as assistant coach with the Knights softball program in 2007-08. Her on-field responsibilities include working with the infield and hitting.
In her first six years at UCF, Watson has seen her players enjoy tremendous success. Among them was shortstop Stephanie Best, who was the first Knight to be drafted by the National Pro Fastpitch league. Best was named Atlantic Sun Player of the Year three consecutive years as well as NFCA All-Southeast Region.
In 2007, Watson guided first baseman Breanne Javier and center fielder Kacie Feaster to First Team All-Conference honors and second baseman Hillary Barrow to a place on the C-USA All-Freshman squad.
Prior to UCF, Watson completed a successful coaching career at the University of Southern Indiana, where she amassed a record of 204-119 (.632) to become the winningest fastpitch coach in school history. In her final season, the team went 36-17 overall, while placing third in the Great Lakes Valley Conference with a 16-6 mark.
The Screaming Eagles achieved a final ranking of 14th in the nation in 1998, the same year she received honors as the GLVC Coach of the Year. They also led the nation with a .972 fielding percentage and set the school record for most wins in a season with 48.
During her six years at USI, Watson guided the team to a GLVC championship and an NCAA Division II Regional Championship berth. Overall, her players received six all-region honors and 10 all-conference honors. Two players were voted all-region three consecutive years, while three players were chosen all-conference four years in a row. She also coached a First-Team All-American and two GLVC Freshman of the Year honorees.
In addition to her duties as USI head coach, Watson served as the school[apos]s senior woman administrator. She also voted in the Division II Top 25 Coaches[apos] Poll and was a member of the Great Lakes Regional Committee for three years.
Prior to her tenure at USI, Watson was an assistant coach at Missouri State and head coach at Friends University, her alma mater. While at Friends, she was named 1989 Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Coach of the Year. She guided the softball team to two regular season conference championships and the 1989 KCAC Tournament title. She owns a career record of 306-192 (.614) in ten years as a head coach.
During her undergraduate years at Friends, she was a three-sport athlete, earning all-conference honors in volleyball and softball. She also earned NAIA Academic All-American status in volleyball and softball.
A member of the National Fastpitch Coaches Association since 1991, Watson has a bachelor[apos]s degree in health and physical education from Friends University and a master[apos]s degree in educational administration from Missouri State.