Springfield, Mass. - December 4, 2025 - For many Springfield College students, sport is more than something they play, it becomes something they live. For Patrick Watson '21 G'22, that truth has carried him from the turf on Stagg Field to the heart of the professional lacrosse world.

Today, Watson serves as the Lacrosse Operations & Experience Manager for the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL), while also working as Operations Administrator for the USA Men's Lacrosse Field Team, two positions that keep him at the center of the sport he has loved since childhood.

His path into the industry began on Alden Street, where he earned his undergraduate degree in sport management and later completed his master's in athletic leadership. Those academic experiences set the foundation for a career where versatility, communication, and problem-solving matter every single day.

"In my current role, I wear many different hats, from marketing to operations to financial planning," Watson said. "Springfield prepared me for all of it. The sport management program applies to every corner of the sports industry."

But it wasn't just the classroom that shaped him, it was the lacrosse program itself. As a member of the men's lacrosse team, Watson learned the discipline, consistency, and accountability that still fuel him today.

"The number one trait I took into my professional career was discipline," he said. "At Springfield, everyone from the coaching staff to the last player on the roster was expected to put in the same amount of effort. The standards were high every single year."

That mindset continues to drive him as he navigates the demands of two major lacrosse organizations. Professionally, he finds motivation in the sport itself and in the goal of carving out a respected place in the lacrosse world.

"I've always been involved in the sport, and I love that I get to live out my dream every day," Watson said. "The motivation comes from wanting to continue to grow with the company I work for and to make a name for myself."

Personally, his motivation is deeply meaningful: "Making my family and friends proud," he said. "Being known as a good person and helping however I can is extremely important to how I live my life."

As he reflects on his journey, Watson says Springfield taught him to care deeply about the work, about the people, and about the community around him. It's a lesson he hopes students today take to heart. His advice? Use the alumni network and show up ready to work.

"Once your foot is in the door, the work has only just begun," he said. "If you get an internship or shadowing opportunity, be curious. Ask questions. Work extremely hard. There is nothing more valuable than real-world experience while you're still in school."

Still, the moments that stick with him most come from the field. His favorite Springfield memory isn't a championship or a highlight play, it's the final game he ever played in a Pride uniform. It was his fifth year, the culmination of a college career filled with high standards and unexpected adversity: two seasons cut short by COVID, close friends graduating, and even losing his captaincy as a senior.

That last game, though difficult in outcome, brought clarity.

"My family, friends, and old high school coach were all in the stands," he said. "Afterward, talking with Coach Bugbee put everything into perspective. Even though we lost, I never felt closer to the locker room than I did that day."

What Patrick remembers most is one moment: simple, genuine, and unforgettable.

"After the last game, Coach Bugbee called me a Chief Dawg and told me he loved me. That made all the ups and downs worth it. It shaped me into a better person."

From Springfield College to the top tiers of professional lacrosse, Patrick Watson's journey is one defined by resilience, discipline, gratitude, and by a deep commitment to the sport and people who helped shape him.

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