William "Bill" Watkins Jr. (born February 26, 1954) is an American former professional baseball player and a long-time minor league manager. Known primarily for his extensive managerial career within various Minor League Baseball organizations, Watkins played a role in the development of numerous major league players.
Watkins was drafted by the Chicago White Sox in the 26th round of the 1972 Major League Baseball draft. He played as a catcher and first baseman in the White Sox minor league system from 1974 to 1979, reaching the Double-A level with the Knoxville Sox in 1977. Over his six-year playing career, he accumulated a batting average of .239 with 20 home runs and 149 runs batted in.
Following his playing career, Watkins transitioned into managing, a role he held for over three decades. His managerial career began in 1980 with the Bristol White Sox (Rookie-level) in the Appalachian League. He spent the majority of his managerial tenure (1980–2010, 2012–2015) within the Chicago White Sox organization, managing teams at nearly every level, from Rookie ball to Triple-A. His teams won several league championships, including the Carolina League title with the Winston-Salem Spirits in 1986 and the Southern League title with the Birmingham Barons in 1993. He also managed in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization in 2011 and the Oakland Athletics organization in 2016.
Watkins is particularly recognized for his longevity as a minor league manager and his dedication to player development. He retired from professional baseball after the 2016 season.