Life Coach: Former local high school coach with Parkinson's disease gets warm support
ALTON BAKER PARK - When a local high school coach was first diagnosed with parkinsons disease nine years ago, it left a community shocked. Kevin Watt's friends and family say since he's retired from coaching on the court, he's become a life coach and today, nearly one-hundred people came out to show their support.
"Growing up with him, he's just my dad," says Laurie Watts. "But really once you've seen how many lives he's touched it's unbelievable." Sunday, Eugene resident Kevin Watts celebrated his 58th birthday but this year, it's anything but typical.
Almost 100 friends and family members got together for the "Sole Support for Parkinsons Walk" and conicidently it fell on Kevin's birthday. "Really the amount of support is indescribable," says Kevin.
Kevin has been living with Parkinson's Disease since 1998; an ailment that affects the central nervous system. "You get a lot of stares in public and your hands start shaking and your head starts bobbing," he says.
Kevin coached football, women's basketball, and worked as a guidance counselor at Churchill High School for more than 20 years. "They won a bunch of championships and went to the playoffs," says daughter Laurie while filing through an old scrapbook.
Not long after being diagnosed, Kevin was forced to retire. "Taking that away from me was the cruelest thing of all," he says. "It was really an opportunity to work with the greatest kids in the world and i miss that tremendously."
Corynne Murray was on his team the year he was diagnosed. She says, "It was hard seeing him going from someone who would mess around on the court to someone who couldn't do it anymore."
Loved ones say it's just his body that's changed. His daughter Jamie Congedo says, "He's still the same person. His mental function and his sharp wit is still there."
Kevin says he always taught his kids to play through a tough call during a game and he compares the disease to his tough call in life. "By being a face that's not going to hide in the shadows that puts a face on the disease and makes it more acceptable to the public and less burden to the patient."
A champion on the court, a champion in life, and Sunday, a champion at the event where "Watts Walkers" took home first place by raising more than 4 thousand dollars.
"He's incredibly strong and I'm just so proud," says Jamie. "I'm incredibly proud to be his daughter."
Kevin still volunteer coaches at Churchill High School.
"Growing up with him, he's just my dad," says Laurie Watts. "But really once you've seen how many lives he's touched it's unbelievable." Sunday, Eugene resident Kevin Watts celebrated his 58th birthday but this year, it's anything but typical.
Almost 100 friends and family members got together for the "Sole Support for Parkinsons Walk" and conicidently it fell on Kevin's birthday. "Really the amount of support is indescribable," says Kevin.
Kevin has been living with Parkinson's Disease since 1998; an ailment that affects the central nervous system. "You get a lot of stares in public and your hands start shaking and your head starts bobbing," he says.
Kevin coached football, women's basketball, and worked as a guidance counselor at Churchill High School for more than 20 years. "They won a bunch of championships and went to the playoffs," says daughter Laurie while filing through an old scrapbook.
Not long after being diagnosed, Kevin was forced to retire. "Taking that away from me was the cruelest thing of all," he says. "It was really an opportunity to work with the greatest kids in the world and i miss that tremendously."
Corynne Murray was on his team the year he was diagnosed. She says, "It was hard seeing him going from someone who would mess around on the court to someone who couldn't do it anymore."
Loved ones say it's just his body that's changed. His daughter Jamie Congedo says, "He's still the same person. His mental function and his sharp wit is still there."
Kevin says he always taught his kids to play through a tough call during a game and he compares the disease to his tough call in life. "By being a face that's not going to hide in the shadows that puts a face on the disease and makes it more acceptable to the public and less burden to the patient."
A champion on the court, a champion in life, and Sunday, a champion at the event where "Watts Walkers" took home first place by raising more than 4 thousand dollars.
"He's incredibly strong and I'm just so proud," says Jamie. "I'm incredibly proud to be his daughter."
Kevin still volunteer coaches at Churchill High School.
More to Explore
Learn about changes coming to commenting