Staff Directory
- Title:
- General Manager
- Email:
Updated April 2025
Mark Watson Jr. joined the Golden Flashes staff in January of 2023 as the running backs coach and offensive recruiting coordinator. Watson Jr. was elevated to general manager in March 2025.
Watson comes to Kent State after serving the last three seasons as the wide receivers coach at Southern Illinois. During his three seasons with the Salukis, he coached an All-Conference wide receiver in each of his three seasons. In the 2021 spring season, Avante Cox earned All-America honors after leading the Missouri Valley in receiving.
Prior to his time in Carbondale, Watson was at South Dakota from 2016-19 as the defensive backs coach and head of player development. The Coyotes’ picked off 43 passes in his four seasons. During his tenure, South Dakota qualified for the FCS playoffs for the first time and reached the round of 16.
Watson also has stops at Drake for the 2010 and 2011 seasons. In his two seasons with the Bulldogs, Drake led the Pioneer League in interceptions both seasons. He joined USC in 2012 as a graduate assistant for defensive backs. The Trojans were 41st in pass efficiency defense and 40th in scoring defense.
He returned to the offensive side of the ball in 2013, joining Western Illinois and coaching wide receivers in 2013 and 14. The Leathernecks posted three 1,000 yard receivers on the same 2014 team. In 2015, he coached the Western Illinois’ secondary, helping the program return to the FCS playoffs after a five-season absence.
A St. Charles, Missouri native, Watson played at Missouri Southern and McPherson College in his career. He was a two-year starter at McPherson and team captain as a senior. He graduated from McPherson in 2010 with a degree in business management.
Mark and his wife Antheria have four children: Tatiana, Makayla, Amaya and Mark III.
