It certainly didn’t take the Oxford school district very long to find a new athletic director to replace the retiring Pat Ball.
Last week, Michael D. Watson was hired to oversee the district’s high school and middle school sports programs beginning Aug. 1. He will earn $89,337 per year plus benefits.
‘Oxford’s proven to be a progressive school district ? one that’s committed to athletics and the importance of athletics as part of the educational process,? said the 34-year-old Muskegon resident. ‘To get a chance to work in Oxford ? it’s a very desirable place to be if you’re a person in my career path.?
Watson replaces Ball, who, in early June, unexpectedly announced his Aug. 1 retirement as athletic director after 11 years.
Since April 2007, Watson’s been employed as the athletic director for Muskegon Public Schools, where he supervised a coaching staff of nearly 100 in 22 varsity sports and 57 squads. The program involved more than 850 student-athletes.
Prior to that, he worked as the athletic director for Rochester High School in Rochester Hills from February 2002 until April 2007. There he supervised a coaching staff of nearly 100 in 26 varsity sports and 60 squads consisting of nearly 800 student-athletes.
Watson got his start as an athletic director in July 1999 for the school district in Ashley, Michigan.
After spending two years there, he took over as athletic director for Oscoda Area Schools and worked there seven months before taking the job at Rochester High School.
Watson got his first taste of high school athletics back at Ovid-Elsie High School, which he graduated from in 1993. There he competed in three sports ? football, swimming and baseball ? and earned nine varsity letters. He was also a three-time varsity captain.
‘Athletics has taught me an awful lot of lessons that have hit home (and) reinforced values taught by my parents,? Watson said.
After he graduated from the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor) in March 1999, Watson originally planned to attend law school with the goal of working in sports and entertainment law. However, he decided to take a year off and got a job as the athletic director and varsity baseball coach for Ashley Schools.
‘I realized after that, law school and working in pro or college sports wasn’t going to be for me,? he said. ‘High school sports was really what I wanted to do all along.?
He later went on to earn his master’s degree in sports administration from Ohio University in June 2006.
No stranger to Oxford, Watson and his family ? which includes wife, Amy, and daughters Hope, 8, and Holly, 4 ? will be moving back into their house on Pocahontas Trail in the township.
The family originally moved here in 2003, but left four years later when Watson was hired in Muskegon. They never had any luck selling the Oxford home and have been renting a place in Muskegon.
Watson’s looking forward to returning to Oxford and getting reacquainted with all the folks he’ll be working with on a daily basis.
?(Football) Coach (Bud) Rowley was a neighbor of mine. We talked on several occasions,? he said.
He’s excited about finishing some of the projects started by Ball such as applying to become recognized as an Exemplary Athletic Program by the Michigan Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association.
‘It’s a pretty prestigious award,? Watson explained. ‘The best school district athletic programs in Michigan are the ones that endeavor to be a part of that certification process.?
‘Not many school districts apply for that certification or are even successful early on . . . I think it’s important to take that baton and run with it.?
Watson’s also eager to see the district’s athletic program switch from playing in the Flint Metro League to competing in the Oakland Athletic Association (OAA).
‘From what I can tell, that’s a positive step,? he said, noting he agrees with Superintendent Dr. William Skilling’s logic that Oxford is located in Oakland County, so it should play in an Oakland County league. ‘I think that’s probably good, sound reasoning.?
‘I have a lot of experience in the OAA as athletic director at Rochester for five years,? Watson explained. ‘I was president of that association for a year, so I’m pretty familiar with the schools and the ADs. That will be a pretty easy transition.?
Being part of the OAA gives Oxford the opportunity to develop ‘some really positive local rivalries? in his opinion.
For instance, he’d like to see Oxford start playing Lake Orion again, particularly in football. ‘I don’t know if that will ever happen or whether we’ll be in the same division, (but) I think that could be a great thing for both communities,? Watson said.
Watson wished to assure everyone he wants to work together to continue Oxford’s development of a superior athletic program.
‘You learn over time that imposing a set of rules or a vision on people doesn’t work,? he said. ‘We have to create a shared vision together and that vision has to be reflective of the community and what the community’s wishes are.?
Watson’s glad to know Oxford is a place ‘that seems to really value athletics as part of the school culture.?
‘Things learned in athletics are things that can’t be learned as easily in a classroom,? he said, citing teamwork, selflessness, sacrifice and respect as examples of ‘things that can serve that student well in life.?
Athletics also teaches students how to ‘solve problems? and ‘attack issues that affect their lives.?
‘I think what athletics has a unique opportunity to do, and has done for American culture for a long time, is prepare students for challenges and problems in life that can’t be anticipated,? Watson said. ‘I think the athletic setting is a wonderful opportunity for students to work in an environment that kind of predisposes them to be successful.?
Watson’s looking forward to building a good professional and personal life here.
‘I’m excited to get started. It’s a really great opportunity for my family and I,? he said. ‘We hope to be in Oxford for years and years to come.?

Watson’s career highlights
Muskegon Public Schools
* Led transition into the Ottawa-Kent Conference ‘Red? Division ? the top division of the largest athletic conference in Michigan.
* Muskegon High School named one of Sports Illustrated’s 51 top high school athletic programs nationally in 2007.
* Responsible for leading $1 million capital fund-raising campaign to renovate Heckley Stadium.

Rochester High School
* Overseer of Athletic Booster Club fund-raising activities totalling more than $40,000 annually.
* Under tenure, teams captured seven MHSAA team state championships, two state runner-up finishes and numerous association, county, district and regional titles.
* Responsible, in part, for overseeing $4 million district-wide stadium and athletic facility renovation project that included installation of infill-style artificial turf fields (2004-05).
* Creator of award-winning online E-newsletter named The Blue & White Illustrated. Delivered monthly to more than 1,000 subscribers.

Oscoda Area Schools
* Created the Oscoda Ambassadors program that enabled students to gain event management and sports administration experience while cutting department expenses.
* Responsible for planning of bond project that renovated district athletic facilities including remodeled gym, pool and football stadium. Also included new basketball/softball complex, soccer stadium and weight room (2001).

Ashley Community Schools
* Promoted department through creative fund-raising and local media involvement. Instituted the first-ever ‘meet the teams? night involving local media, parents and fans.
* Led successful effort to expand conference membership into north and south divisions for scheduling purposes as Mid-State Activities Conference (MSAC) president.