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This fall marks the 10th anniversary of Steve Watson’s leadership as Loyola’s director of athletics. Under his guidance, the University has achieved significant milestones, with an impressive 21 NCAA tournament appearances, highlighted by an NCAA championship in men’s volleyball in 2015 and a Final Four appearance in men’s basketball in 2018.
Recognized as a 2019–2020 National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics Under Armour Athletic Director of the Year, Watson has greatly elevated Loyola’s national prominence and revitalized engagement with alumni and the University fan base. Watson’s dedication and strategic leadership have left an indelible mark on Loyola’s athletic legacy and community.
What are some of the biggest changes you’ve seen in Loyola Athletics?
It’s been over nine years now since I arrived so a lot has changed, but the biggest change might be that Loyola Athletics has become relevant. Not that it wasn’t in the past, but athletics matters in a different way now. It’s not just basketball; [it’s] the crowds you see at soccer and volleyball games. You hear students across campus talking about the cross-country team winning back-to-back A10 championships and women’s volleyball going to the NCAA Tournament. You see so many people wearing their maroon-and-gold scarves, and the script Loyola is everywhere. It wasn’t like that in the past. It’s different the way that students have grown to love and support athletics. And it’s not just students, but the entire University and our alumni support and follow the Ramblers, and that wasn’t always the case.
What have been some of your most memorable moments here at Loyola?
It would be easy to simply say the volleyball national championship, the basketball Final Four, the academic All-Americans, the many conference championships … but when people talk about Loyola, the thing we hear more than anything else is the love for Sister Jean. Our run to the Final Four literally introduced her to the world. As she famously said, she became an international celebrity. Now she has a book out, there’s going to be a documentary, and seeing her rise in popularity has just been incredible. On top of it all, she has not changed a bit. She is still the same person she was before her international fame. It’s been so much fun to see how the world has embraced someone we know and see on campus every day. To be able to share Sister Jean with the world is the best!
What does the future of Loyola Athletics look like?
There is a lot of uncertainty in college athletics with NIL [name, image, and likeness], the transfer portal, etc., but who we are and the way we do things at Loyola is not going to change. No matter what, academics is going to be our priority. Our student athletes will be involved at the highest level on campus and in the community. That’s who we are, and it doesn’t matter what happens out in the world of college athletics. That’s not going to change. That’s our foundation. We’re aligned with University leadership, the board of trustees, and our alumni. They love to win, winning is fun, but academics is the core of Loyola Athletics and that’s not going to change.
