David Watson (coach)

Last updated
David Watson
Biographical details
Born (1976-08-16) August 16, 1976 (age 43)
Playing career
1994-1996 Minnesota
1997-1999 Western Illinois
Position(s) Defensive end
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2002-2003 SW Minnesota State (GA)
2004 Michigan State (GA)
2005-2008 Southern California (DL/ST)

David Watson (born August 16, 1976) is an American football coach. He was most recently the Defensive Line Coach for the University of Southern California (USC) Trojans.

American football Team field sport

American football, referred to as football in the United States and Canada and also known as gridiron, is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular field with goalposts at each end. The offense, the team with possession of the oval-shaped football, attempts to advance down the field by running with the ball or passing it, while the defense, the team without possession of the ball, aims to stop the offense's advance and to take control of the ball for themselves. The offense must advance at least ten yards in four downs or plays; if they fail, they turn over the football to the defense, but if they succeed, they are given a new set of four downs to continue the drive. Points are scored primarily by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone for a touchdown or kicking the ball through the opponent's goalposts for a field goal. The team with the most points at the end of a game wins.

Coach (sport) person involved in directing, instructing and training sportspeople

In sports, a coach is a person involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople. A coach may also be a teacher.

University of Southern California Private research university in Los Angeles, California, United States

The University of Southern California is a private research university in Los Angeles, California. Founded in 1880, it is the oldest private research university in California. For the 2018–19 academic year, there were 20,000 students enrolled in four-year undergraduate programs. USC is a highly selective school, accepting only 11% percent of undergraduate applicants for its class of 2023. USC also has 27,500 graduate and professional students in a number of different programs, including business, law, engineering, social work, occupational therapy, pharmacy, and medicine. It is the largest private employer in the city of Los Angeles and generates $8 billion in economic impact on Los Angeles and California.

Contents

Coaching career

Watson began his college coaching career at NCAA Division II Southwest Minnesota State. While there he served as a graduate assistant working with the defensive line in 2002, transitioning to a full-time assistant in 2003 handling the defensive line, linebackers and the front seven. In 2004, he served as a Defensive Graduate Assistant for Michigan State.

NCAA Division II Intermediate-level division of competition in college basketball

Division II is an intermediate-level division of competition in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). It offers an alternative to both the larger and better-funded Division I and to the scholarship-free environment offered in Division III.

Michigan State Spartans football football team

The Michigan State Spartans football program represents Michigan State University in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision level. The Spartans are members of the Big Ten Conference. Michigan State claims a total of six national championships ; the AP Poll voted Michigan State as national champion one time (1952). They have been named national champions twice in the Coaches Poll. The Spartans have also won two Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association championships and nine Big Ten championships.

Watson joined the staff at USC in February 2005, serving his first year as an offensive line graduate assistant. He was promoted to full-time assistant working with the defensive line in February 2006. Among the players he coached at USC were Sedrick Ellis and Lawrence Jackson. After a shift in defensive coaching personnel in January 2009, Watson was no longer with the program. [1]

Sedrick Ellis American football defensive tackle

Sedrick Dwayne Ellis is a former American football defensive tackle. He played college football for the University of Southern California (USC), and earned unanimous All-American honors. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints seventh overall in the 2008 NFL Draft.

Lawrence Jackson American football defensive end

Lawrence Christopher Jackson is a former American football defensive end who played in the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the first round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at USC.

College career

Watson played defensive end in college, beginning his career at Minnesota. As a freshman, he earned Academic All-Big Ten honors in 1994; his career was then beset by two season-ending injuries that caused him to take medical redshirt seasons for both 1995 and 1996. He then opted to transfer to Division I-AA Western Illinois where he played for three seasons (1997–1999), earning All-Gateway Conference selection all three years while setting WIU records for season (41) and career (72) tackles for loss. His injuries finally caused him to end his playing career in 1999. [2] He graduated from WIU in 2001.

Defensive end Defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football

Defensive end (DE) is a defensive position in the sport of gridiron football.

Minnesota Golden Gophers football football team of the University of Minnesota

The Minnesota Golden Gophers football program represents the University of Minnesota in college football at the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) level. Founded in 1882, the program is one of the oldest in college football. Minnesota has been a member of the Big Ten Conference since its inception in 1896 as the Western Conference. The Golden Gophers claim seven national championships: 1904, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1940, 1941, and 1960. Since 2009, the Gophers have played all their home games at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Redshirt, in United States college athletics, is a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation to lengthen their period of eligibility. Typically, a student's athletic eligibility in a given sport is four seasons, aligning with the four years of academic classes typically required to earn a bachelor's degree at an American college or university. However, in a redshirt year, student athletes may attend classes at the college or university, practice with an athletic team, and "suit up" for play – but they may compete in only a limited number of games,. Using this mechanism, a student athlete has at most five academic years to use the four years of eligibility, thus becoming what is termed a fifth-year senior.

High school career

Watson began playing football at age 7, and prepped at Bloomington Jefferson High School in Bloomington, Minnesota. [2] A three-sport athlete, he was the Minnesota Gatorade Player of the Year in football in 1993.

Thomas Jefferson High School is one of the two high schools in Bloomington, Minnesota, USA Independent School District No. 271. It is located at 102nd Street and France Avenue on the suburb's southwest side. About 1,600 students attend in grades 9 through 12. The mascot is a Jaguar.

Bloomington, Minnesota City in Minnesota, United States

Bloomington is the fifth largest city, as of 2018 estimates, in the U.S. state of Minnesota. It is located in Hennepin County on the north bank of the Minnesota River, above its confluence with the Mississippi River. Bloomington lies 10 miles (16 km) south of downtown Minneapolis. As of the 2010 census the city's population was 82,893, and in 2018 the estimated population was 85,578.

Personal

Watson is married with two children. [2] During his first two seasons with USC, former high school teammate Lane Kiffin served as Offensive Coordinator for the Trojans. His players have nicknamed him "Coach Sweaty" due to his heavy perspiration during practices. [2]

Lane Kiffin American football coach

Lane Monte Kiffin is an American football coach who is currently the head football coach at Florida Atlantic University.

Watson successfully fought an addiction to prescription painkillers such as Vicodin and Soma: He had developed an early addiction due to injuries while playing college football, but after weaning himself off he relapsed after injuring himself while working in construction. On May 17, 2008, Watson was arrested under suspicion of driving under the influence of prescription drugs and underwent rehabilitation treatment after encouragement from USC Head Coach Pete Carroll. [2] [3] Watson and USC were named in a personal injury lawsuit arising from the accident. [3]

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References

  1. ↑ Gary Klein, Taylor Mays' decision to stay in school leads to hope about Mark Sanchez, Los Angeles Times, January 14, 2009, Accessed January 14, 2009.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Gary Klein, USC football assistant Dave Watson on road to recovery from addiction to painkillers Archived 2009-02-25 at the Wayback Machine , Los Angeles Times, September 7, 2008, Accessed September 7, 2008.
  3. 1 2 Adam Rose, Lawsuit Names USC, Former Assistant Coach Archived 2009-07-17 at the Wayback Machine , LAist.com, July 13, 2009, Accessed July 14, 2009.
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