North Carolina A&T

Richard Watkins was named the first-ever men's and women's varsity golf coach at North Carolina A&T State University on July 16, 2015. Watkins started the women's program in the fall of 2016 and the men's program in the fall of 2017. 

It was the culmination of a vision that started in the 70s when Watkins was a student at High Point College (known as High Point University today) and met Dr. Otis Tillman, a medical doctor for 45 years and a 1953 graduate of A&T. Dr. Tillman and Watkins became golfing buddies, leading Dr. Tillman to encourage Watkins to start a golf program at A&T. When Watkins graduated from High Point College in 1976, he immediately began his graduate studies at A&T. It was at that point Watkins met legendary A&T men's basketball coach and Director of Athletics at the time, Cal Irvin. 

Irvin agreed with Dr. Tillman that A&T needed to start a varsity golf program and, therefore, a club team formed under the guidance of Dr. Sullivan A. Welborne, who at the time led the intramural programs at A&T. But the vision of varsity golf programs would not come to full fruition until the university started exploring the expansion of A&T Athletics with its Preeminence 2020 initiative that began in 2010. 

With the strong backing of the late Ralph Shelton, a business and civic leader, an A&T graduate, and an avid golfer, the dream of recruiting student-athletes to play golf at A&T started to become a reality under the leadership of Chancellor Harold L. Martin, Sr., and Director of Athletics, Earl M. Hilton III. Eventually, Dr. Tillman got his wish when Hilton tabbed Watkins to head the women's and men's golf programs. Something Dr. Tillman got to see before he passed away in 2019. 

Watkins has constructed two impressive programs. The women have won seven tournaments in its seven years of existence, including three straight in the National Women's Collegiate Tournament. The women's program has also produced some excellent golfers, including Christyn Carr. 

Carr won three tournaments during her career. In 2021, she became the first female collegiate player to shoot under 70 at the notoriously difficult Alotian Club golf course at the Jackson T. Stephens Cup in Roland, Ark. 

The men won their first-ever tournament in 2019. Golfer Diego Gonzalez won two medalists honors in his career, and Xavier Williams finished tied for first at the HBCU Challenge in 2022, leading to him becoming the first A&T golfer – men or women – to win a conference weekly honor when the Big South named him its men's co-golfer of the week. In addition, Cody Lissner became the first men's golfer to win a tournament on Oct. 16, 2019, at the UMES Collegiate Golf Challenge. The men have won four tournaments since their inception in 2017. 

The first year of the men's program included an eighth-place finish at the PGA Minority Golf Championships. Luis Acevedo was a prized recruit for Watkins during his one season of eligibility, shooting in the 70s five times during the program's first year. 

The men's golf program received national attention when former NBA player and champion J.R. Smith decided to return to college to earn an undergraduate degree. Smith chose to attend A&T. An avid golfer; Smith also decided to walk on to the men's golf team as a 36-year-old freshman. It has led to two major documentaries that featured A&T. 

The golf teams have also entered successful business partnerships with major companies such as Smithfield Foods, Grant Thornton and Taylor Made Golf. Watkins loves discussing the growth of his program. 

Watkins has served several roles at A&T. His primary responsibility before taking over the golf programs was as an instructor in the Department of Human Performance and Leisure Studies. It was known as the Physical Education Department when Watkins started at A&T. 

After receiving his master's degree, he was a physical education instructor, head baseball and volleyball coach and supervisor of physical education student teachers at Texas College (Tyler, Texas) from 1982-92. His Texas College baseball teams won six straight Interregional Athletic Conference baseball championships from 1986-91, and he was named coach of the year in each of those seasons. Texas College also made the NAIA District Baseball Playoffs six times during his tenure. In addition, he was volleyball coach of the year in 1985 and from 1987-91.

From 1993-96, he was the baseball coach for the Aggies, helping the Aggies win the '93 MEAC championship. Watkins also ran North Carolina A&T's National Youth Sports Program (NYSP) for many years. 

Watkins has been a part of the pro shop staff at Gillespie Park Golf Course in Greensboro for more than 20 years. His responsibilities included course maintenance and private and group golf instruction. He has also served as a golf instructor for the Multicultural Golf Association of America and TYGR Paws clinics. He has also worked at the Oak Hollow Golf Course (High Point) and was a volunteer assistant golf coach at Page High School under head coach Debbie Jones.