Southern Conference

The Southern Conference Male Athlete of the Year is selected annually by the Southern Conference athletics directors and a media member representing each conference school. Prior to 1990-91, the award was selected solely by members of the Southern Conference Sports Media Association. Beginning in 1991-92, the award was named after the late Bob Waters, who was Western Carolina's head football coach from 1969-88.

• 1947-48 – Frank Gillespie, Clemson (football, basketball, baseball)
• 1948-49 – Charlie Justice, North Carolina (football)
• 1949-50 – Whitt Cobb, Davidson (basketball)
• 1950-51 – Dick Groat, Duke (basketball, baseball)
• 1951-52 – Dick Groat, Duke (basketball, baseball)
• 1952-53 – Frank Selvy, Furman (basketball)
• 1953-54 – Johnny Mapp, VMI (football, track)
• 1954-55 – Darrell Floyd, Furman (basketball)
• 1955-56 – Darrell Floyd, Furman (basketball)
• 1956-57 – Rod Hundley, West Virginia (basketball)
• 1957-58 – Dom Flora, Washington & Lee (basketball, baseball)
• 1958-59 – Jerry West, West Virginia (basketball)
• 1959-60 – Jerry West, West Virginia (basketball)
• 1960-61 – Jeff Cohen, William & Mary (basketball)
• 1961-62 – Rod Thorn, West Virginia (basketball)
• 1962-63 – Rod Thorn, West Virginia (basketball)
• 1963-64 – Bob Schweickert, Virginia Tech (football)
• 1964-65 – Fred Hetzel, Davidson (basketball)
• 1965-66 – Dick Snyder, Davidson (basketball)
• 1966-67 – Chuck Albertson, William & Mary (football)
• 1967-68 – Ron Williams, West Virginia (basketball)
• 1968-69 – Buster O'Brien, Richmond (football)
• 1969-70 – Walker Gillette, Richmond (football, track)
• 1970-71 – Phil Mosser, William & Mary (football)
• 1971-72 – Brian Baima, The Citadel (football)
• 1972-73 – Carlester Crumpler, East Carolina (football, track)
• 1973-74 – Carl Summerell, East Carolina (football, track)
• 1974-75 – Clyde Mayes, Furman (basketball)
• 1975-76 – Brian Ruff, The Citadel (football, track)
• 1976-77 – Brian Ruff, The Citadel (football, track)
• 1977-78 – Wayne Tolleson, Western Carolina (football, baseball)
• 1978-79 – John Gerdy, Davidson (basketball)
• 1979-80 – Rick Beasley, Appalachian State (football, track)
• 1980-81 – Stump Mitchell, The Citadel (football)
• 1981-82 – Bill White, The Citadel (football, baseball)
• 1982-83 – Anthony James, Western Carolina (football, track)
• 1983-84 – Stanford Jennings, Furman (football, track)
• 1984-85 – Rock Hurst, Furman (football, baseball, track)
• 1985-86 – Lee Glaze, The Citadel (football, baseball)
• 1986-87 – John Settle, Appalachian State (football)
• 1987-88 – Tony Petersen, Marshall (football, baseball)
• 1988-89 – Jeff Blankenship, Furman (football)
• 1989-90 – Anthony Jenkins, The Citadel (baseball)
• 1990-91 – Keith Jennings, ETSU (basketball)
• 1991-92 – Michael Payton, Marshall (football)
• 1992-93 – Michael Payton, Marshall (football)
• 1993-94 – Jason Beverlin, Western Carolina (baseball)
• 1994-95 – Todd Donnan, Marshall (football)
• 1995-96 – Dexter Coakley, Appalachian State (football)
• 1996-97 – Dexter Coakley, Appalachian State (football)
• 1997-98 – B.J. Adigun, ETSU (football)
• 1998-99 – Brian Wiley, The Citadel (baseball)
• 1999-00 – Adrian Peterson, Georgia Southern (football)
• 2000-01 – Louis Ivory, Furman (football)
• 2001-02 – Randy Corn, The Citadel (baseball)
• 2002-03 – James Cameron, Furman (tennis)
• 2003-04 – Matt Nelson, Wofford (football)
• 2004-05 – Davon Fowlkes, Appalachian State (football)
• 2005-06 – Richie Williams, Appalachian State (football)
• 2006-07 – Marques Murrell, Appalachian State (football)
• 2007-08 – Stephen Curry, Davidson (basketball)
• 2008-09 – Stephen Curry, Davidson (basketball)
• 2009-10 – Armanti Edwards, Appalachian State (football)
• 2010-11 – Andrew Goudelock, College of Charleston (basketball)
• 2011-12 – Austin Trotman, Appalachian State (wrestling)
• 2012-13 – Eric Breitenstein, Wofford (football)
• 2013-14 – De'Mon Brooks, Davidson (basketball)
• 2014-15 – Davis Tull, Chattanooga (football)
• 2015-16 – Jacob Huesman, Chattanooga (football)
• 2016-17 – Will Bagrou, Mercer (soccer)
• 2017-18 – Will Bagrou, Mercer (soccer)
• 2018-19 – Fletcher Magee, Wofford (basketball)
• 2019-20 – Neal Richards, VMI (wrestling)
• 2020-21 – Isaiah Miller, UNCG (basketball)
• 2021-22 – Cameron Ponder, Furman (XC, track and field); Cole Strange, Chattanooga (football)
• 2022-23 – Jalen Slawson, Furman (basketball)
• 2023-24 – Mats Ege, ETSU (golf)
• 2024-25 – Dylan Schubert, Furman (XC, track and field)