Coach Watson enters his fourth year with the Railsplitter program. Before taking over the helm of the LMU program, Watson spent eight years as head coach of North Idaho College. In 1996, he was named head coach of the Cardinal program and put together one of NIC’s most successful teams ever. The 1996-97 Cardinals played to a 33-6 record and a fourth-place finish at the NJCAA National Tournament. Watson’s success was highlighted by being voted 1997 Coach of the Year for the Scenic West Athletic Conference.

Watson’s coaching experience prior to LMU includes three years as an assistant coach at the University of Idaho where he helped lead the Vandals to a 1993 Big Sky Championship and a 24-8 season record. Other coaching experience includes the head coach position at Hiwassee College in Madisonville, Tennessee, from 1984-1990. Under Watson’s direction, Hiwassee won the Tennessee Junior College State title three times and qualified twice for the NJCAA National Tournament. He finished with a 152-38 record and was named Coach of the Year in 1986, 1988, 1989 and 1990.

Prior to returning to the college ranks, Watson was head coach from 1993 to 1996 at Columbia Central High School in Columbia, Tennessee. During that time his teams compiled a 67-21 record over three seasons and a No. 1 state ranking during the 1993-94 season.

Watson has a bachelor of science degree in health and physical education from Lee University and a master’s degree in health and physical education from Tennessee Tech University. He and his wife, Anna Sue, have three children, Gabe who is a teacher at Powell Valley Elementary School in Speedwell, and Leigh Ann and Tyler, who both live in Tennessee.