IUP Athletic Hall of Fame
The Mickey Watson story at IUP is a story of firsts. A member of the first graduating class to receive degrees from IUP as a university (in January of 1966). He was the first Indian quarterback to play his home games strictly in Miller Stadium.
Doing so from 1963 (the stadium opened the year before) through '65, Watson is regarded as the Crimson and Gray's first "modern-era" field general to post statistical achievements that have since become standards for those mastering the position.
After starting two seasons for Coach Chuck Klausing (after backing up at QB and playing defensive back for Chuck Mills), Watson was credited with all the major career, single-season and single-game passing and total offense records. He was responsible for 40 touchdowns, 26 by air.
His portfolio included 3,613 career total offense and 3,035 passing yards on 203 completions. Watson's senior season was highlighted by 2,037 yards (1,818 passing) on 122 completions.
At California, he gained 334 yards (completing 20 passes of a then-record 38 attempts). At Lock Haven the following week, his 15 completions were good for 293 yards and four touchdowns.
Watson, after spending his freshman year at George Washington University, led the first IUP teams to play in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference championship games, in 1964 and 1965. The Indians' combined record for his three seasons was 22-6-1.
After graduating in social sciences and playing for the Atlantic City Senators, Watson returned to IUP to assist Klausing with the 1968 Boardwalk Bowl team. In 1979 and '80, he came back again, this time as Owen Dougherty’s offensive coordinator, while also serving as Director of University Relations.
In between, he was offensive coordinator at Edinboro, head coach and athletic director at Bluefield State in West Virginia, and was part of staffs at the University of Tampa and at Marshall. He also earned a master's degree at West Virginia.
An Indiana bank vice president since 1981 , Watson has been VP for retail banking at NBOC, for corporate trust at First Commonwealth Financial Corp. and (currently) for public service there.
A member of the IUP Alumni Association Executive Board, he served with the area Lifesteps executive board for 14 years.
Watson and wife Nancy have two sons, Matthew and Douglas, and daughter Cory Anne.
