Watson out as Belle Vernon baseball coach
By John Sacco
For the Observer-Reporter
newsroom@observer-reporter.com
Tony Watson, who led Belle Vernon’s baseball to the Class 4A baseball semifinals a few weeks ago, was informed Tuesday afternoon that the district’s school board intends to open his head coaching position.
Watson, 49, is a 1993 Belle Vernon graduate. He coached the Leopards to the WPIAL playoffs three times in his five seasons at the helm.
He said he was informed by Matt Humbert, Belle Vernon’s athletic director, Tuesday afternoon that it was the school board’s intention to open his coaching position.
No official vote has been taken.
Watson added that he met with Humbert, the superintendent and board president Monday for an exit interview for the 2025 season. Watson said such meetings are “normal procedure” at the end of each season.
Other board members attended that meeting.
Watson called the decision a “gut punch.”
“I haven’t been this upset since my grandmother passed away years ago,” Watson said. “I mean it. This really hit me hard.
“Historically, we just had two of the best seasons we’ve had in our program. It could be any number of things but you know I don’t want to speculate at this point.”
Attempts to reach Humbert were not successful prior to deadline.
Belle Vernon, the fifth seed in the postseason, defeated Derry, 7-0, and Beaver, 5-0, in this season’s playoffs before losing to eventual PIAA and WPIAL champion Indiana in the semifinals.
The Leopards season ended with a 7-3 loss to Central Valley in the third-place consolation game.
In 2024, the Leopards won their first WPIAL section title since 2012.