But although we congratulate Watts on this huge opportunity and wish her the best, everyone who's been associated with the Lady Panther basketball program will miss her dearly. Not only is Watts a great coach, she's a first-rate lady. You won't find her in the middle of a brawl or getting thrown out of a game, even though she's very intense on the court. Along those lines, it should be noted that Watts' decision was not a result of the hideous power play within the Jackson County school system, though one couldn't blame her if it were. All great coaches are great motivators, but not in the way you might think.
Motivation is more a by-product of respect than the result of a pep talk.
It comes from a thorough knowledge of the game, from knowing which player should be where on the floor and when, and the ability to transmit that to the team. A coach who coasts his way through the job won't be prepared as well and hence won't command the team's respect. I'll wager Annette Watts has never had that problem. During my time at The Jackson Herald sports desk, I've worked with two coaches who had the ability to motivate their athletes to reach beyond their evident abilities. One was former Jefferson wrestling coach Jack Keen.