Toronto Rock president Bill Watters has been named the National Lacrosse League's executive of the year.

Under Watters, the expansion Rock became an overnight success in Toronto, averaging 11,075 fans a game on their way to an 11-3 record and the 1999 NLL Champion's Cup.

"Bill Watters is a man of uncommon vision coupled with extraordinary personal relationships with some of the most influential people in sports," said NLL commissioner John Livsey, in announcing the award last week. "He is a natural selection as our executive of the year."

Watters, also assistant to the president with the NHL's Toronto Maple Leafs, was chiefly responsible for putting together the investment group that includes Bobby Orr, Don Cherry, Paul Beeston, Brendan Shanahan and Tie Domi. The group purchased the former (Hamilton) Ontario Raiders from the Major Indoor Lacrosse Group last summer and immediately relocated the team to Toronto.