The central Ohio running community is mourning the loss of beloved coach and athlete Ernie Watts. Watts died June 22 at the age of 71.
A 1972 graduate of Marion-Franklin, he excelled in both cross-country and track and field.
“He was a hard worker,” said Roger Graves, who coached Watts in track at Marion-Franklin. “Ernie was a fighter.”
Watts went on to compete at Ohio State in both sports before graduating in 1976 and then becoming a coach in the City League, guiding both the Eastmoor and Independence boys programs.
A highlight during his tenure at Eastmoor was guiding the Warriors to a runner-up finish in the Class AAA state meet in 1987, finishing behind Toledo DeVilbiss, which closed in June 1991.
Scott Reeves, a 1987 graduate of Eastmoor, was a key contributor to the team’s success as he won the long jump (24 feet, ¼ inch) and was part of the first-place 400-meter relay (42.04 seconds). He also finished second in the 300 hurdles (37.85).
Reeves, who went on to compete at Ohio State, said Watts was behind much of his success.
“Without a doubt, in my formative years, he is probably top three the most influential person in my life,” Reeves said. “There are probably hundreds of kids who can say that. Without coach Watts, I’m not a state champion. Without coach Watts, I don’t have a scholarship to Ohio State. He loved track and field to his core, and he had an enthusiasm and energy that made us love it, too.
“Ernie had some good talent, but he cultivated the interest in track and the talent that he had.”
Reeves added that he attended the OHSAA state track meet with Watts earlier this month.
Watts also enjoyed success at Independence, guiding the 76ers to their first City League title in track in 2007.
Watts returned to Eastmoor as an assistant coach under Jason Lewis in 2016 in both cross-country and track.
“Ernie and I started off as rivals,” Lewis said. “I started coaching [Eastmoor] in 2004. He was at Independence. As I watched him, you go from a rivalry to a respect. There was mutual respect. Ernie has coached state champs in cross-country, state champs in the 3,200, the 800. Scott Reeves in the long jump.”
Watts was part of Eastmoor winning the City League title on May 14. It marked the program’s first league title since 2022, when it captured its then 11th consecutive championship.
Lewis and Watts helped lead the Eastmoor cross-country team to a Division II regional runner-up finish and state berth in 2016.
“We just kept working together since then,” Lewis said.
Watts himself also competed in numerous races following his collegiate career.
High school sports reporter Frank DiRenna can be reached at fdirenna@dispatch.com and at @DispatchFrank on X.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Area running community mourning longtime City League coach Ernie Watts
Reporting by Frank DiRenna, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
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By Frank DiRenna, Columbus Dispatch | USA TODAY Network
