Mike Watt

For 34 years, Mike Watt has coached baseball at St. Mary’s Colgan High School in Pittsburg.  During that time, the Panthers have won 16 state titles in 20 championship game appearances, including seven straight between 2004-10 and four in a row from 2013-16.  Following the 2016 season, Watt was named American Baseball Coaches Association/Diamond National Coach of the Year.  Watt’s win-loss record entering the 2020 season is 610-174.

Along with the state titles, Watt has compiled 30 regional championships, 18 Crawford-Neosho-Cherokee League Championships and has sent 32 players on to the collegiate level.  

Two of Watt’s players played professionally, including Kansas Baseball Hall of Fame member P.J. Forbes and Sam Gilbert, drafted by Oakland in 2016.

Other accolades Watt has earned include: 2000 and 2009 National Federation Coaches Association Section 5 Coach of the Year and Kansas Coaches Association All-Class Coach of the Year in 1999 and 2009.  Watt is a five-time KCA 2-1A Coach of the Year and an eight-time Crawford-Neosho-Cherokee League Coach of the Year.

In addition to high school coaching, Watt won three American Legion state championships as the head coach of Pittsburg Post 64.  He also worked with USA baseball and the Tournament of Starts from 2000-05.