Don Wattrick (April 2, 1910 – September 28, 1965) was an American basketball player, coach, broadcaster, and executive who was executive manager of theDetroit Pistons of theNational Basketball Association from 1964 to 1965.
Wattrick was born inBattle Creek, Michigan and attended school in Battle Creek andLansing, Michigan. He played basketball atCentral State and coached at Lansing Central, Chesaning, andBay City Central high schools before pursuing a career in sports broadcasting.[1]
Wattrick began his broadcasting career atWKAR while attendingMichigan State University. In 1942, he became the sports director atWXYZ inDetroit. While at the station, he calledDetroit Red Wings, high school football, andMichigan Wolverines football games.[2] DuringWorld War II, he was also a sales and advertising executive with in theFord Motor Company.[3] In 1946, he joinedWJR as host of theSports Parade and play-by-play announcer for University of Michigan football games.[4] Wattrick returned to WXYZ in 1948 and on October 9, 1948, was part of the first day of broadcasting atWXYZ-TV.[5]
Nationally, Wattrick calledCleveland Browns games for theDuMont Television Network during the1952 NFL season and provided commentary forABC'sMotor City Boxing, which aired for three months in 1953.[6][7]
In 1962, Wattrick replacedBill Flemming as the Detroit Pistons' the radio announcer.[8] In 1964, Pistons ownerFred Zollner promoted Wattrick to general manager.[9] One of his first moves was firing head coachCharley Wolf and replacing him with 24-year old playerDave DeBusschere.[10] The Pistons selectedBill Buntin in the1965 NBA draft, but Wattrick was unable to sign him to a contract. Before the start of the 1965–66 season, the Pistons lost their leading scorer,Terry Dischinger (military service) and starting center,Reggie Harding (suspension). On September 28, 1965, Wattrick died of a heart attack at his home in Detroit.[11]