FLORENCE, S.C. – Former Francis Marion University men’s basketball and golf coach Tim Watson died on July 5 in a Florence hospital after an illness. He was buried July 8 in Woodside Cemetery.

Theodore Martine “Tim” Watson Jr., 71, was born in Spartanburg. He graduated from Berkeley High School and played basketball and baseball at Furman University. He served as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division of the U.S. Army from 1957-1959 and then earned undergraduate and masters degrees from the University of South Carolina.

Watson coached for three seasons at Francis Marion from 1973 to 1976. He guided the Patriot basketball team to a 21-53 combined record, including the program’s first-ever double-figure win total in 1974-75, a 10-13 mark.

On the golf course, the Patriots were 44-10 and captured the NAIA District Six team championships in 1974 and 1976. Those squads went on to finish seventh and fourth respectively at the NAIA national tournament. He was named the District Six “Coach of the Year” all three seasons.

Altogether, he spent 34 total years in the coaching profession. He also coached at Hannahan High School, Berkeley High School, Hartsville High School, St. Johns High School (Darlington), and most recently Hannah-Pamplico High School.

He spent 23 years as a prep baseball coach, compiling a 345-149 record, and earning 17 state playoff berths, one lower-state champions, and seven region titles.   He was selected to coach in the North/South baseball game twice and the North/South basketball game once.

He was an ordained minister and former deacon in First Baptist Church of Pamplico. He is survived by a son, Jeffrey G. Watson Sr. of Pamplico, and a daughter, JoEllyn R. Watson of Florence. Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church Choir Fund, P.O. Box 248, Pamplico, SC 29583.