Gilman names Mickey Watson its new soccer coach, replacing Jon Seal

Gilman has named Abel Mickey Watson as its new varsity soccer coach, replacing longtime coach Jon Seal.Watson, a Berwyn, Pennsylvania, native who played college soccer at Loyola Maryland and Syracuse, has previously coached at The Phelps School and Episcopal Academy in Pennsylvania, in addition to locally at Friends.In a letter Watson sent to the Gilman community via the schools website, he wrote: Ultimately, my goal is twofold: to help our student-athletes reach the collegiate level and to win the [Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference] championship.

For those aspiring to play at the next level, I am committed to doing everything I can to assist in that process from working closely with our college counselors to personally reaching out to college coaches on their behalf.

As for the MIAA, I firmly believe that if we take care of the little things, excellence will follow naturally.Watson spent the past five years coaching youth at the Radnor (Pa.) Soccer Club.We are excited to welcome Coach Watson to Gilman.

After a tremendous career as a player, he has become a dynamic, transformational coach, whose relational style impacts players and families everywhere he has worked, Gilman athletic director Russell Wrenn said.

Coach Watson has technical coaching expertise, but it is his magnetic personality, relentless enthusiasm, and commitment to developing his players on and off the field that are truly exceptional.Seal spent 21 years as the Greyhounds coach, compiling a 195-180-42 record that included the programs lone MIAA A crown in 2010.In 2004, he took over a program that was teetering between the A and B conferences and established a perennial contender in one of the countrys finest leagues.

Reaching the top in 2010, he was named The Baltimore Suns All-Metro Coach of the Year and it was the start of three straight championship game appearances.Before taking over at Gilman, Seal got his start in coaching at McDonogh, where he spent 11 years as an assistant working under his late father, Bill, and Steve Nichols.

The 2010 title game win came against McDonogh a 1-0 game that represented the Greyhounds penchant for playing sound defense.It meant the world to me because it was the last game my dad coached.

He was an assistant under Steve on the brink of retirement.

So he was on the opposite sideline and I remember him coming up after the game shaking my hand and saying how proud he was of me.

And shaking hands with Steve and him congratulating me it was emotional, Seal said.Kenneth K.

Lam / Baltimore SunFormer Gilman soccer coach Jon Seal, shown in 2016, led the team for 21 years.

(Kenneth K.

Lam/Staff file)This past season, the Greyhounds went 6-9-5 overall and finished with 16 points in league play to reach the playoffs, falling to McDonogh, 4-2, in the quarterfinal round.

Shortly after the season, the Gilman administration notified Seal that they felt the program needed a new voice.Gilman School, the athletic department, and generations of soccer families are indebted to Coach Seal for all of his efforts over the past 21 years, Wrenn said.

As the longest tenured soccer coach in school history, Jon resurrected a program languishing ...

and built consistently successful teams in the A conference, including winning a crown in 2010.

More importantly, Coach Seals unflappable dedication and consistent emphasis on sportsmanship, teamwork, and hard work are lessons that these young men will continue to apply in their lives outside of the soccer pitch to make them better men, better husbands, and better fathers.Related ArticlesHigh School Sports | Varsity Q&A: North County boys basketball freshman Nash Avery wants to rise with his hometown teamHigh School Sports | St.

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18)Curley coach Barry Stitz was impressed with how much Seal got from his teams annually.Hed have a handful of soccer players there and then mix in some other guys and always did a heckuva job, Stitz said.

You never looked forward to playing Gilman because you always knew his teams were going to play so hard.

They just never stopped, regardless of what the score was.

Jon was a class act on the sideline and I enjoyed becoming friends with him over the years its going to be sad not seeing him on the sideline.Seal, who continues his teaching career at Gilman and has a son enrolled there in grade school, was grateful for his time on the Greyhounds sideline.

His passion for coaching remains.I feel like I have a lot more to give and Im not ruling out returning to the sidelines.

The opportunity would have to be a perfect one for my family and me, he said.Have a news tip? Contact Glenn Graham at [email protected], 410-332-6636 and x.com/GlennGrahamSun..

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