Cranbrook Eagles boxing coach Bill Watson is the best there is in this province.

Boxing B.C. named him the coach of the year at their most recent annual general meeting.

“It comes as a surprise, and it’s tough for me to accept it when there’s so much help that I get at the club with Larry (Adams), Tom (White) and Kevin Lyons. It’s definitely something I would share with the boys,” said Watson.

Garth Rizzuto put Watson’s name up for consideration, and successfully predicted his humble response to winning the award.

“I’ve known him so long that I consider him a little brother,” said Rizzuto, a former Eagles coach who now heads up the Fernie Old School Boxing Club.

“Both of us are just trying to make boxing good in the area. He’s a no-nonsense guy and we are too. No drugs, no (stuff) like that, no bullies. We’re trying to get the right people involved.”

They first met in the late 1960s when a 10-year-old Watson was taking part in a Bobby Kromm hockey school in Trail. Rizzuto — a future NHLer — was one of the instructors.

Both were added to the Trail Home of Champions monument three years ago, with Watson being recognized for a boxing career that took him around the world as a member of Canada’s national team.

“When he moved to Cranbrook, we renewed acquaintances about 10 years ago and I was always trying to get him to come to the club to start coaching because I thought that would be the next step for him,” said Rizzuto, who noted Watson is a great role model. “He’s a hard-working, stand-up guy.”

One of the criteria for the coach of the year award is dedication.

“As the zone rep for the Kootenays and as a referee, I go to all the matches and referee all the matches. Every time I turned around and went some place, Billy would be there with a group of kids,” said Rizzuto.

In order to qualify for the award, the coach’s athletes have to be successful.

The Eagles were able to qualify three boxers to Team B.C. this past season — Colin Adams, Taite Stober and Adam Schubert. Adams and Schubert won the provincial championships, while Adams also won bronze at nationals and the Alberta Golden Gloves.

Rizzuto said Watson’s skill as a technical boxer is one of the things that makes him a good coach.

“His dad (Bill Watson Sr.) coached him really, really well. He’s had some high-end coaching,” said Rizzuto, noting Watson moved to Sparwood in the late 1970s to train under renowned coach John Kovak.

“The many coaches that I had throughout my career definitely made an impression on me,” said Watson. “I’ve also learned the last few years working with Larry and Tom and Kevin. You can’t stop learning in this sport. There’s always something new to learn from. We’ve learned from each other and I think that’s what has made us such a good club up until now, and it definitely reflects on the boxers that we’re putting out.”

White concurred, noting the coaches all have a wealth of fighting experience, not to mention different boxing styles.

“We tell the kids, I’m teaching you this way and Bill might have a different way and Larry might have a different way; take from it what you can,” said White.

“The kids who are willing to put in the time and effort to learn, they’re going to be successful.”

White noted the last year was a very successful one for the club, with lots of new members.

“When you have a lot of kids in there, there’s a big variety to spar with so when they do go into the fights they learn to adapt. Bill spent a ton of time with these kids — we all did — and it was an awesome year. It takes a lot of dedication from all of us, and a lot of times we’re down there five days a week and traveling on the weekends. (Watson) has done a great job with the kids, for sure.”

That dedication continues today, as work begins in tearing down some walls in their basement domicile that will triple the club’s floor space.

“Even when the club’s closed, we’re there,” laughed White.

Asked why he dedicates so much time to the Eagles, Watson said it is for the love of the sport.

“You see the kids grow, and you see them mature,” he said. “I don’t have the words for it, but it’s such a good feeling to see the kids learn how to defend themselves and go out and win bouts and win titles: golden glove titles, provincial titles. It really makes the coach feel good when you’ve got a kid in your corner who’s fighting their guts out for you.”