DETROIT (9/18/2012) -- Former Detroit Titan head men's basketball coach Perry Watson will be one of many honored guest attending the Titans Legends & Traditions Weekend that will take place on September 21-22 at Calihan Hall. The event will feature legends dating back to the 1950's.

For 15 seasons, coach Watson roamed the sidelines in Calihan Hall rebuilding the Titans into one of the most feared mid-major programs in the nation. He retired as the second-winningest head coach in Titan history compiling a 261-198 overall record, trailing only the legendary Bob Calihan.

He had 10 winning seasons, including eight years with 18 or more victories, and reached the 20-win plateau four times. UDM posted four-straight 20-win seasons from 1998-2001 - a school record - as well as tying another school mark with 25 victories in 1998, 1999 and 2001. During those dominant years, the Titans recorded the longest home winning streak in the country, reaching 39 games at its height.

During his tenure at UDM, coach Watson's teams claimed three conference championships (1994, 1998 and 1999) and a pair of NCAA Tournament (1998, 1999) and NIT (2001, 2002) bids. Coach Watson didn't just get the Titans to the postseason, he guided them to a number of upset victories, including a win over St. John's in the 1998 NCAA Tournament – Detroit's first postseason appearance in 19 years. The following season, UDM shocked the basketball world again defeating nationally-ranked UCLA in the first round.

In 2001, Detroit took its show to the Big Apple advancing to the semifinals of the NIT, chalking up some huge road wins at Connecticut and at Dayton in the process.

He was named the MCC Coach of the Year in 1998 and his players earned 19 All-League selections, including four Player of the Year (Jermaine Jackson, Rashad Phillips-2x & Willie Green), and three Newcomers of the Year (Phillips, Derrick Hayes & Brandon Cotton) accolades. Sixteen Titans made the conference's All-Defensive Team and seven were named to the All-Newcomer squad. He also coached a pair of All-Americans (Phillips, Green) and three future NBA players (Jackson, Green & Desmond Ferguson).

Student-athletes such as Brian Alexander earned three-straight All-Defensive Team honors, while Carl Pickett, Tony Tolbert, Derrick Hayes were All-League players who helped transform Detroit into a feared program under Coach Watson.

Questions and RSVPs for the dinner can be made by calling Jake Neu at (313) 993-1700 or RSVP online at: https://commerce.cashnet.com/udmathleticspay.
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