Alabama State University Athletics

Larry Watkins is in his fifth season as Special Assistant to the Athletic Director, overseeing ASU’s athletics facilities.

A longtime staple and fixture at Alabama State, Watkins retired as head coach of the Hornet baseball program in May of 2011 after 30 years at the helm of the program and after more than five decades as a player, assistant coach or head coach.

Watkins earned his 500^th career victory in the 2011 season opener vs. Tuskegee, adding to his mark as the all-time wins leader in Hornet baseball history, winning 513 games. He led the Hornets to 11 postseason tournaments, has been recognized as the SWAC Coach of the Year, and was a two-time winner of the league’s Eastern Division Coach of the Year honors.

In 2002, Watkins’ team was nationally recognized for setting a school mark for stolen bases with 164. That same year, Bartowski Cowan led the nation in base thefts with 54 in 58 attempts.

Known as the “Toy Cannon” during his playing days as a center fielder, Watkins holds the distinction of being a member of the only Hornets baseball team to participate in the NCAA playoffs following the 1974 season. Watkins was hired as assistant baseball coach upon his graduation that year and was named head coach in 1982.

Watkins is a member of several national organizations, including the American Baseball Coaches Association and Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.

A devoutly religiously man, Watkins is married to the former Louvenia Williams and they have three children – Kamela, Christopher, and Larry Jr.