Long-time coach and physical educator, Tom Watt was born in Toronto in 1935. As a child growing up in York Township, he was encouraged by his father to play every sport. Never in his wildest dreams, did Tom set out to be a professional coach.

He graduated from University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Physical Education in 1959, and planned on a career in teaching.

In 1965 he returned to U of T as both the Head Hockey Coach for the University of Toronto Varsity Blues, and as an Assistant Professor in Physical Education. Between 1965 and 1977, Tom was an offensive line coach.

One of Tom’s proudest moments was when U of T won the first ever national college championship, the Vanier Cup, beating Alberta 14 – 7. During his years as coach, he led The Blues to 9 National and 11 Conference Championships.

He proudly coached Canada’s Olympic Hockey team along side Clare Drake in Lake Placid in 1980. Following his Olympic experience, he joined the Vancouver Canucks as assistant coach for the 1980/81 season.

The following year, he was hired as Head Coach for the Winnipeg Jets, where he led the team to a 48 point improvement, the single largest improvement from one year to the next in the history of the league at that time. He was then awarded the Jack Adams trophy, honoured as the number one coach in the National League, for his tremendous efforts.

In 1989, while he was assistant coach with the Calgary Flames, they won the Stanley Cup. In 1990 he moved back to Toronto to be the Assistant Coach for the Toronto Maple Leafs, where he coached for two more years. He also served as Director of Player Development and Pro Scouting for the Maple Leafs.

Tom was an assistant coach for Team Canada, when they won the coveted Canada Cup in 1984, 1987 and 1991. Tom then became a regular television commentator on numerous Olympic and World Hockey Championships. His career has allowed him to live all over the country, an opportunity for which he is thankful and proud of. Tom stays very active, and is currently Pro Scouting for the Florida Panthers.