The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Football
- Title:
- Assistant Head for Offense/Quarterbacks
Former Louisville offensive coordinator Shawn Watson is in his second season as assistant head coach for offense and quarterbacks coach at Texas.
Watson has an extensive resume, which features stops in the Big 12 Conference, Big Ten and Big East, as well as head-coaching experience.
During 2014, Watson helped Texas overcome the loss of starting quarterback David Ash in the season opener and gain bowl eligibility by winning three of its last four regular season games. Watson tutored sophomore quarterback Tyrone Swoopes, who three times passed for more than 300 yards, which is tied for fourth on UT’s single-season list. Swoopes, one of only two healthy scholarship signal-callers on the roster, became one of five quarterbacks in school history to pass for 2,000 or more yards and rush for at least 200 yards. Despite playing behind a new starting offensive line, Swoopes threw for 2,409 yards and completed 58.3 percent of his passes. In addition, his red-zone passing efficiency (229.45 rating) ranked seventh in the FBS.
Watson spent the previous three years (2011-13) on Charlie Strong’s staff at Louisville, serving as the quarterbacks coach and taking over as offensive coordinator the last two seasons. He helped the Cardinals post a 30-9 record, win a pair of Big East Conference Championships (2011, 2012) and earn three bowl appearances, while tutoring Teddy Bridgewater, one of the top quarterbacks in the nation who went on to become a first-round NFL draft pick of the Minnesota Vikings.
In 2013, Louisville finished 12-1 and led the nation in completion percentage (70.8), fewest passes intercepted (4) and fewest turnovers lost (10), and was second in third-down conversions (56.0 percent) and time of possession (33:49). The Cardinals also ranked third in passing efficiency (171.9), 16th in passing offense (314.0 yards per game) and 28th in total offense (460.8 ypg).
This past season, Bridgewater, a junior, was a finalist for the Manning Award and a semifinalist for both the Maxwell and Davey O'Brien awards. He threw for 3,970 yards and a school-record 31 touchdowns with only four interceptions and led the nation with a 71.0 completion percentage.
In 2012, Louisville posted an 11-2 record, claimed a Big East Championship and finished the year ranked 13th in the BCS Standings, USA Today Coaches Poll and Associated Press Poll. The Cards capped the year with a 33-23 upset win over fourth-ranked Florida in the Allstate Sugar Bowl. Bridgewater was named Big East Player of the Year and ranked eighth in the nation in passing efficiency, helping the Cardinals finish No. 3 in the FBS in red-zone efficiency (93.0%), tied for sixth in turnovers lost (13), eighth in third-down conversions (49.7%) and 24th in passing offense (296.1 ypg).
Watson came to Louisville in 2011 as the quarterbacks coach, and took over play-calling duties midway through the season. After a 2-4 start, Watson helped the Cardinals win five of their last six games to finish the regular season 7-5 and earn a bid to the Belk Bowl. The 2011 campaign saw Bridgewater earn Big East Rookie of the Year honors and freshman All-America accolades, while offensive guard Jake Smith became the first Cardinal player to be named a FWAA Freshman All-American. Watson was elevated to offensive coordinator following the season.
Prior to Louisville, Watson spent four seasons (2007-10) at Nebraska. He directed an offense in 2010 that ranked ninth in the country in rushing (247.6 ypg) and 39th in scoring (30.9 ppg). That rushing total was more than 100 yards better than the previous season when the Cornhuskers were playing with first-year starter Zac Lee under center and had three true freshmen score during the season, a program record.
In 2008, Nebraska ranked 12th nationally in total offense (450.8 ypg), 15th in passing offense (281.0 ypg), 15th in passing efficiency (154.5 rating) and 17th in scoring (35.4 ppg). Senior quarterback Joe Ganz set single-season school records for total offense (3,826) and passing yards (3,568) and ranked 14th nationally in passing efficiency (153.6 rating). He threw for 25 touchdowns while completing 67.9 percent of his passes, finishing his career with more than 20 Cornhusker records.
In 2007, his first season as offensive coordinator/QB coach, the Huskers threw for a school-record 3,886 yards, including the top three passing days in Cornhusker history. The Nebraska offense ranked ninth nationally at 468.2 yards per game, A pair of Watson's quarterbacks - Ganz and Sam Keller - helped Nebraska rank seventh nationally in passing with a school-record 323.8 yards per game.
In his first season at Nebraska, Watson coached the tight ends and was the recruiting coordinator. Among his protégés was Matt Herian, who finished his career with a Husker tight end record for receptions (65) and receiving yards (1,243).
Watson made his first stop in the Big 12 in 1999 when he became the quarterbacks coach at Colorado. He helped Mike Moschetti rank 13th nationally in passing efficiency (140.7 rating) and 14th in total offense (281.8 ypg) that season.
He was elevated to offensive coordinator/QB coach the following season and spent six years (1999-05) in Boulder, helping the Buffalos win the Big 12 North Division four times, including a conference title in 2001.
Colorado went 10-3 in 2001 in large part due to an offense which ranked 20th nationally in total yards (434.4 ypg), including eighth in rushing (228.5 ypg). Bobby Purify and Chris Brown each rushed for more than 900 yards, and Bobby Pesavento and Craig Ochs combined for nearly 2,500 passing yards.
Watson coached quarterbacks at Northwestern for two seasons (1997-98) under Gary Barnett after serving as head coach at Southern Illinois, his alma mater, for three years (1994-96). He coached 20 all-conference players during his time with the Salukis.
Watson was named the coach at SIU after an impressive seven-year (1987-93) run as an assistant coach at Miami University. At Miami, Watson tutored the wide receivers/tight ends for two years (1987-88), wide receivers for one (1989) and served as quarterbacks coach and recruiting coordinator in his final four seasons (1990-93).
Watson played three seasons in college. The native of Cardondale, Ill., spent 1978 at Illinois before transferring to Southern Illinois where he played two seasons (1979-80) as a safety.
He earned a bachelor's degree in health education from SIU in 1982, then served as a graduate assistant that season with the Salukis.
Watson went on to spend four seasons on Mike White’s staff at Illinois. He was a graduate assistant for two seasons (1883-84) before being elevated to a full-time position. He coached tight ends and offensive tackles in 1985 and the wide receivers in 1986. During that time, the Illini won the Big Ten title (1983), their first in 20 years, and made two bowl appearances.
A member of 15 bowl teams, Watson and his wife Anita, have a daughter, Amber, and two sons, Aaron and Adam.
SHAWN WATSON AT-A-GLANCE | |
| Hometown | Carbondale, Ill. |
| High school | Carterville High School (Carbondale, Ill.) |
| College | Southern Illinois '82 |
| Year in coaching | 34th |
| Wife | Anita |
| Children | Aaron, Adam, Amber |
COACHING ASSIGNMENTS | ||
| 2014- | Assistant Head Coach for Offense/Quarterbacks | Texas |
| 2012-13 | Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks | Louisville |
| 2011 | Quarterbacks | Louisville |
| 2007-10 | Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks | Nebraska |
| 2006 | Tight Ends/Recruiting Coordinator | Nebraska |
| 2000-05 | Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks | Colorado |
| 1999 | Quarterbacks | Colorado |
| 1997-98 | Quarterbacks | Northwestern |
| 1994-96 | Head Coach | Southern Illinois |
| 1990-93 | Quarterbacks/Recruiting Coordinator | Miami (Ohio) |
| 1989 | Wide Receivers | Miami (Ohio) |
| 1987-88 | Wide Receivers/Tight Ends | Miami (Ohio) |
| 1986 | Wide Receivers | Illinois |
| 1985 | Tight Ends/Offensive Tackles | Illinois |
| 1983-84 | Graduate Assistant | Illinois |
| 1982 | Graduate Assistant | Southern Illinois |
COLLEGE BOWL EXPERIENCE | ||
| 2014 | Texas Bowl | Texas |
| 2013 | Russell Athletic Bowl | Louisville |
| 2013 | Suger Bowl | Louisville |
| 2011 | Belk Bowl | Louisville |
| 2010 | Holiday Bowl | Nebraska |
| 2009 | Holiday Bowl | Nebraska |
| 2009 | Gator Bowl | Nebraska |
| 2007 | Cotton Bowl | Nebraska |
| 2005 | Champs Bowl | Colorado |
| 2004 | EV1.net Houston Bowl | Colorado |
| 2002 | Fiesta Bowl | Colorado |
| 2002 | Alamo Bowl | Colorado |
| 1999 | Insight.com Bowl | Colorado |
| 1985 | Peach Bowl | Illinois |
| 1984 | Rose Bowl | Illinois |
