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Former Husker Assistant Softball Coach Dies After Battle With Cancer

Mark Watt leaves a legacy of dedication and achievement in Nebraska high school sports.

Maren Angus-Coombs

Former Nebraska volunteer assistant coach Mark Watt stands in the third base coach's box.
Former Nebraska volunteer assistant coach Mark Watt stands in the third base coach's box. / Nebraska Athletics

One-time Nebraska volunteer assistant and longtime Lincoln Southwest softball coach Mark Watt died Wednesday after a battle with cancer.

Over a 25-year coaching career, Watt achieved 579 wins and guided his teams to four Class A state championships, with the latest title coming in 2021. He started coaching at Southwest when the school opened in 2002 and retired in 2022.

He was a member of Rhonda Revelle's coaching staff at Nebraska after retiring from his high school career.

In a social media post, Revelle described Watt as a "legendary coach" and a "true friend."

The LSW softball team also shared their condolences with Watt's family in a post on X.

A graduate of the University of Michigan in 1978, Watt began his coaching career in 1996 as the head softball coach at Lincoln Southeast in Nebraska. In 2002, he became the first head coach of Lincoln Southwest.

Alongside his softball expertise, Watt coached various sports for a combined 21 years, including men’s and women’s basketball, boys' volleyball, football, and baseball.

Watt's career included coaching stints across different schools and even internationally, serving as athletic director and basketball and volleyball coach at TASIS-Hellenic International School in Athens, Greece.

His accomplishments earned him numerous accolades, such as NFHS National Softball Coach of the Year (2021-22) and Nebraska Coaches Association Softball Coach of the Year (2009, 2022). Known for his emphasis on both athletic and academic excellence, Watt guided teams to six top-ten national rankings for team GPA since 2012 and mentored multiple athletes to NFCA All-Region honors.

He held a bachelor's degree in education from Michigan and a master's in health promotion and wellness management from Springfield College, earned in 1989.

Originally from Ann Arbor, Michigan, Watt is survived by his wife, Ann, and two daughters, Lindsay and Kelsey.

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Maren Angus-Coombs
MAREN ANGUS-COOMBS

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