'No days off': How coach Tony Watson's perfect attendance streak is changing Atlantic basketball

DELRAY BEACH — His 20 years in Palm Beach County have seen quite the resume build-up for basketball coach Tony Watson, but the achievement he's most proud of might surprise many.

In a six-year stint at his alma mater, Palm Beach Gardens High, his Gators made top-ranked runs in 2007 and 2008 with six of those players going on to the next level, including his son, University of Buffalo alum Tony Watson II. Watson went along, too, adding a brief stop as an assistant coach at Palm Beach Atlantic before the high school hardwood beckoned him back. In 2016, Watson was brought in to flip the program at Forest Hill High.

Three years later, the Falcons won their first district tournament in program history, reaching the region semifinals. In 2020, Forest Hill went back-to-back in districts and earned the region title.

Through all of that — plus his move to coach the boys team at Atlantic High back in April — not once did Watson miss a day of work. He hasn't played hooky in 26 years.

"I don't go to work to pay my bills. I go to work to have fun," Watson said.

"When I hit 20, that was my rah-rah year, like, 'OK, you got there,' but then I realized, this is what you do," Watson said.

He can't remember what year it was when he last took a day off, but the day itself still haunts him.

"The day went by so fast," Watson said. "I woke up, had breakfast, went and worked out. I still remember when I came home, had lunch, took a nap, went and worked out again, next thing I know, it's 3 o'clock."

"I'm saying to myself, 'What did you do all day? You've done nothing — so you should've gone to work."

Always show up, and be 'good people'

That "no days off" mentality looks to be paying off for his latest crew.

As they prepared for a road trip to Watson's old stomping grounds at Forest Hill on Thursday, the Eagles were 3-3, the team's best start since 2020 — the same season Watson's Falcons made a historic state championship appearance.

Atlantic went on to defeat Forest Hill 61-49.

With reigning 6A state champ Dwyer in District 13 with the Eagles, who are currently first in the standings after a 77-60 win over West Boca Raton in November, a long road remains for Atlantic.

However, Watson's trekked with some of the best, making him the perfect hire to take over for onetime Florida State basketball icon Rodney Dobard, who's now coaching girls basketball at American Heritage-Delray.

"Oh my God, I had some good coaches," Watson said.

During his freshman year at North Shore High School, Watson was coached by local great Floyd Andrews. Watson moved to Palm Beach Gardens the following year, where he met the coach who would see him to graduation, Warcecer Jakes.

Some of his encounters have even involved such football legends as longtime FSU coach Bobby Bowden.

Watson can "still visualize" how Andrews, who died at 85 in September 2022, "disciplined his players with love." Jakes taught Watson the indescribable "bond" that can be achieved between a player and a coach. Bowden taught looking for players with speed before skill.

What is Watson's own secret to success?

Always show up, and when you do, be "good people."

And what does that mean?

"You're able to hold a conversation with someone you don't know. You're willing to do something for someone you don't know. In this world, we need people who can care for a stranger," Watson said, also rattling off a quote from a million that he says ruminate in his head regularly.

"People don't care how much you know until they know how much you care."

Watson adding author to many hats

"I just have that gut feeling that when I show up to work, someone's going to need something that I can help with them, and I've been so lucky and so blessed that it's actually been proven to me, because when I'm at work, somebody will be like, 'Hey, coach, I need to talk to you,' or 'Coach, can you get this for me? What do you think about this?'" Watson said.

"And I smile and say, 'You know what? It was good that I was here today,' and it never fails," he added.

"These kids at Atlantic, they're the type of kids who have experienced more of life than my kids at Forest Hill," Watson said. "Some of them have relatives that have passed away, are sick, having a tough time with getting a job or being able to take care of the household — you have it at all the schools in the county, but the key is how many?"

With a duty to brighten days — not to mention with an eighth grader, third grader, and 4-year-old still in the house — the 60-year-old father of seven's final days on the court are nowhere in the near future.

"If I can have 14 more years ... oooh wee," Watson said excitedly.

In 31 years of teaching, from his role as a P.E. teacher in the classroom to the sidelines as a coach, Watson knows that's the legacy he wants to leave.

He's writing a book, titled "At Work Everyday." While he's looking forward to readers getting the message, he's most excited to see the cover come to fruition.

"I love this. In small letters, I'm going to have 'At work" and in big letters, it's going to say 'Everyday,'" Watson said, grinning ear to ear.

"The main purpose of the book is I want people to cherish work, no matter what your position is, and cherish the people that you're associated with, and, more importantly, cherish the thing your job provides for others," Watson said. "If people can remember those three things and use that on an everyday basis, I think you have more people going to work every day, you know?"

Watson is working on an expected release date.

"Every summer I hope to be done," he said with a laugh. "You learn something new every year."

Rebuilding an Atlantic team that's seen just 25 wins and 50 losses in the past four years, including a most recent finish of 8-20, is certain to give Watson more content.

'Old school' still winning in new school era

"We have to change. We're not going to be successful if we don't change. If we can change our attitude, we can be different," Watson said.

In just a few short months, the atmosphere has already shifted with his presence, and the good energy is giving the community at Atlantic High a positive outlook on the future of the program.

Players, parents and athletic department staff like that Watson is "old school." Down to dressing out with the game day tie.

That means being the first one on campus to greet everyone with a smile, and the one to lock up the parking lot when he finally leaves at midnight. Of course, breaking "a lot" of clipboards. Or sending players out to run gassers during morning workouts when it's already 95 degrees.

"We're trying to get him to cut down on that one," Atlantic Athletic Director Nick DeLucia joked.

"I spend more time with my players than their parents because we're always together. I have to have that. I don't have no other way," Watson said. "If a kid says he spent more time with their parents than they do with me during basketball season, I'm a little upset."

Some call it old-fashioned. Watson would call it traditional.

"I'm always at this place — having fun," Watson said.

More than any of the stereotypes that come with whichever term you use, Watson's tough love never gets lost in translation. It's what has taken teams to the top.

"It's good for me to encounter a ninth grader and watch that person grow over the years. It's good for me to have it where kids come back and thank you for something positive that you did for them," Watson said.

"A lot of that stuff is so good to hear because they don't realize what they've done for me."

Catch the Atlantic Eagles in the regular season

All games are scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

Jan. 9 vs. Boca Raton

Jan. 16 vs. Forest Hill

Jan. 19 at Santaluces

Jan. 26 vs. Olympic Heights

Jan. 30 at Boca Raton

Feb. 2 at Monsignor Pace

Emilee Smarr is a sports reporter for The Palm Beach Post. She can be reached via email at esmarr@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Start of Tony Watson era means "no days off" for Atlantic boys basketball