Quincy Watts (2012) - USC Athletics Hall of Fame

Quincy Watts

Induction:
2012
Class:
1992

Quincy Watts, who came to USC specializing in the 100- and 200-meter dashes, turned into one of the best 400-meter runners in USC history. The four-year (1989-92) letterman won the 1992 NCAA 400 in a meet record time of 44.00 (he finished second in 1991) and he also ran the anchor leg on the USC school-record 1600-meter relay team that placed second (3:00.58). The Trojan co-captain continued his torrid 1992 campaign by winning gold medals at the Barcelona Olympics in the 400 (in an Olympic and USC record time of 43.50) and in the 1600-meter relay (in a world record time of 2:55.74). He was ranked in the world Top 10 in the 400 for four consecutive years (1991-94), including No. 1 in 1992. In the 1600 relay at the World Championships, he won a silver in 1991 and a gold in 1993 (in world record time). He also was a wide receiver on USC football team in 1990. In 2016, he was named to the Pac-12 All-Century Team. He became a personal trainer and high school track coach before being an assistant coach at Cal State Northridge and then USC (2014-21, with the Trojan women twice winning the NCAA outdoor title). In 2022, he was named USC’s Director of Track & Field and Cross Country (his Trojan men won the 2025 NCAA indoor and outdoor track and field crowns).