Melvin Watkins facts for kids

Melvin Lenzo Watkins (born November 15, 1954) is a famous American basketball coach and former player. He spent many years coaching college basketball teams.

Early Life and High School Basketball

Melvin Watkins was born in Reidsville, North Carolina. He went to Reidsville High School. From 1970 to 1973, Watkins played basketball for his high school team.

In his senior year, he was the team captain. He helped his team win the state championship. Because of his great skills, he was named a high school All-American in 1973.

Playing College Basketball

Watkins played college basketball at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. He was the team's point guard, which is the player who usually brings the ball up the court and sets up plays. He was also the team captain.

In 1977, he helped the Charlotte 49ers team reach the Final Four in the NCAA tournament. This is a huge achievement in college basketball. While playing, Watkins also earned a degree in Economics in 1977.

After college, the Buffalo Braves picked him in the fourth round of the 1977 NBA draft. However, he never played in the NBA.

Coaching Career Highlights

Coaching at Charlotte

In 1978, Melvin Watkins started his coaching career. He became an assistant coach for the Charlotte 49ers. He worked as an assistant for eighteen seasons under three different head coaches.

In 1996, he became the head coach for Charlotte. He was the first former Charlotte player to become the head coach. In his first year, he was named the Conference USA Ray Meyer Coach of the Year. He led the 49ers to the NCAA tournament twice. His team made it to the second round both times. Overall, he had a great record of 42 wins and 20 losses at Charlotte.

Coaching at Texas A&M

After his success at Charlotte, Watkins became the head coach at Texas A&M University in 1998. The team had not been very successful before he arrived.

During his six years there, his team had a record of 60 wins and 112 losses. One memorable game was when Texas A&M beat Texas Tech with a last-second shot. This game helped change the rules for how officials could use instant replay in college basketball.

Watkins was known for bringing in many talented young players to Texas A&M. These players included future stars like Antoine Wright and Acie Law IV. He also made sure his players focused on their studies. Many of his players earned academic awards and graduated from college. He left Texas A&M in 2004.

Coaching at Missouri

In 2004, Watkins joined the University of Missouri as an associate head coach. In 2006, he became the interim head coach for a short time. He led the team to 2 wins and 4 losses during this period. After a new head coach was hired, Watkins went back to being an associate head coach.

Coaching at Arkansas

In 2011, Watkins moved to the University of Arkansas. He continued as an associate head coach there for eight seasons. He left Arkansas at the end of the 2019 season.

Personal Life

Melvin Watkins is married to Burrell Bryant. They have three children named Manuale, Marcus, and Keia. His son, Marcus, even played basketball for his father at both Texas A&M and Missouri.

Watkins also cares about his community. He has worked with Habitat for Humanity, which builds homes for people in need. He has also helped a shelter for people affected by domestic violence.

Head Coaching Record Summary

Here is a summary of Melvin Watkins's record as a head coach:

• Charlotte 49ers (1996–1998)
  • Overall Record: 42 wins, 20 losses
  • Conference Record: 23 wins, 7 losses
• Texas A&M Aggies (1998–2004)
  • Overall Record: 61 wins, 112 losses
  • Conference Record: 21 wins, 75 losses
• Missouri Tigers (2006, interim)
  • Overall Record: 2 wins, 5 losses
  • Conference Record: 2 wins, 4 losses

His total record as a head coach is 105 wins and 137 losses.