By Jim Henry

Mike Watt was born to coach.

“I was probably born with the love of competition and playing,” he said. “My dad (Charles) was a coach. He was, of course, one of my early mentors as far as getting me involved in things.”

Charles Watt’s coaching career included being Pittsburg High School’s football coach from 1961-64.

“I loved sports from the first time I ever jumped in and got involved,” Mike said. “I still remember being a gym rat and running around. I was pretty young at that time.”

Last week Watt completed his 41st season as baseball coach at St. Mary’s Colgan with the school’s 23rd state championship, a 7-3 victory over Thomas More Prep in Manhattan. Actually, there have been 40 seasons since the 2020 campaign was canceled by COVID-19.

Watt increased the KSHSAA baseball coaching records he holds for state tournament appearances (36), state tournament victories (68), state championship game appearances (23) and state championships (19).

Just over one month earlier – Friday, April 24 – the Panthers gave Watt career victory No. 700 with an 11-2 victory at Lamar (Mo.). He ends this season with a 710-226 record.

“No, not even close,” Watt said about being around for 700 victories. “Honestly, it’s nothing that I’ve ever just sat back and counted.

“I know when I first coached, there was an article I read that said are you a builder or a bulldozer as a coach. When I first coached, I was probably more of that bulldozer type. It was all about getting those wins. Now through growth and maturation and everything else, I understand what the game is about. It’s much more about building relationships and building confidence in the kids.

“One thing I truly enjoy is watching kids develop throughout the years, from a freshman to a senior,” he said. “Their growth in not just the physical game but the mental game. I’ve had a lot of former players who are dads who come back and say ‘Hey, I still do those things that we did in practice 25 years ago.’

“Another thing I truly enjoy is handing a uniform to a former player’s son. I believe it’s nearly 30 kids now that I coached their dads. That’s a very special moment.”

There were six players on this year’s team whose fathers were also coached by Watt – Brock Radell, Brady Badart, Joe Lomshek, Anthony Schremmer, Mathias Wilbert and Von Schiefelbein.

This was the 70th year for Colgan baseball, and the Panthers have had just five baseball coaches – Lon Farrell for five years, Frank Crespino for 13 years, Jim Flax for five years, Chuck Smith for three years and Watt for the last 41 years. Watt served as an assistant under Smith before becoming head coach.

“I’m very fortunate that people like Coach Farrell and Frank Crespino and Pat Forbes, those coaches who were here in the early times were the ones who laid the foundation and set the example of faith and excellence and tradition,” Watt said. “I’ve been blessed to be able to come in and continue on what they started 70 years ago.

“There are other factors, too. Pittsburg is a baseball town. The kids in the youth program, the J.L. Hutchinson program, Legion baseball, our kids grow up with that type of experience.”

Watt, a 1978 Colgan graduate, played on the Panthers’ 1976 state championship team as a pitcher and infielder. He also was a quarterback and linebacker for the Panthers’ football team and forward/center in basketball.

“Football and baseball were always my favorite by far,” he said. “Back then, it was whatever sport you were playing was your favorite.

“When I grew up, summers were for baseball. I loved the competition of the game. Now that I’ve coached it for so many years, I understand all the good things that it teaches you. It teaches you about adversity and how to be resilient because it is such a game of failure. There are so many life lessons that the game can teach you.”

After high school, Watt pitched for the Kansas Jayhawks before returning to Colgan as a teacher and coach.

“When I first started at Colgan,” Watt said, “I coached Legion baseball in the summer, junior high football, helped with high school basketball, junior high track and baseball at the same time. And junior high athletics director.

“I kept a little bit busy. For junior high track, we would practice during PE time. Back then, we’d run around the block. We had no track.”

Watt continues to hit infield practice and has no idea how many fungo bats he has used.

“I still enjoy that part of the game,” he said. “I used to throw BP (batting practice) for hours. That’s been cut down quite a bit. I’ve loved the game forever and loved being part of it.”

Watt is retiring as a teacher.

“I went to school here; basically, I’ve spent my whole life here at St. Mary’s Colgan,” he said. “I’ve been blessed to be surrounded by so many talented and faith-filled people.”

But he plans to continue coaching baseball as long as his health allows.

“The physical part of the game is definitely getting harder,” he said. “But I still love teaching it.”