- Chrislopher Thompson . Fighting Forest Fires or Fairways? Phil Watkins Phil Watkins, AIC and NAIA District 17 golf coach of the year, could very easily be fighting forest fires in Arizona today. Instead, because of fate, circumstances or providence, Watkins coached Harding~ s golf team to an impressive first place finish in the AIC. Watkins, who never played golf competitively in school, told the story, HI was loving my job in Arizona. Then, one day I got a call from Harry Olree, and he offered me a graduate assistantship here." said the coach. " It was a hard decision, but eventually I came and ended up staying." In fact, Watkins barely even came to the University as a student. After two years at York, Watkins was visited by an admissions counselor from Harding. Watkins recalled the brief session with that counsdor. whom he called "Friendly Fred Alexander ," " He gave me three promises. He said Harding wasjusl a big York, it wasn't too cold in Searcy and that the Southern belles would knock my eyes out .. . I still freeze in the winters." After all his big decisions, Watkins seemed content with his Harding post. He spoke of his enjoyment working with the collegeaged student s. "It's a pleasure to work with them . It's great to see my golfers and even the girls in my P .E. classes develop and do more than they themselves or I could imagine ." Oh well, helping people always seemed more important then keeping squirrels away from fires . - Jimmy Allen COACH PHIL WATKINS, {he 1980 Arkonsos Intercollegiate Conference Golf Coach of the Year. _ COu"~Y 0/ Pub/lCilY O/flu 301 Golf
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