Coach Marlon Watson enters his second season as Defensive Coordinator/ Linebackers Coach for the Vikings.
Prior to ECSU he spent 3 seasons at Alabama A&M University. In 2017 he was in control of the Linebacker unit. Watson, Coached 1st Team All-SWAC Linebacker, Kenny Davis. Davis led the team in tackles and was top 10 in the SWAC conference in tackles, tackles for loss, and sacks. In his 1st season he coached the Nickelbacks and the 2016 season he tutored the Defensive Line.
Before coaching at AA&MU, Watson served as Linebackers Coach at Georgia Military College. While coaching Linebackers at GMC, three of the Linebackers finished top five on the team in total tackles and Dezmin Reed finished second on the team in tackles, sacks, and tackles for loss.
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Prior to arriving at Georgia Military College, Watson served as Defensive Backs Coach, Co-Special Teams Coordinator, and JV Defensive Coordinator at Bethel University in Tennessee. In his first season (2011) he helped tutor the Defensive Line as a Graduate Assistant. During his time at Bethel, the Wildcats won back to back Mid-South West Conference Championships (2011-12). The Wildcats also appeared in the NAIA playoff series twice, and in the 1st round of the 2012 playoffs they beat Georgetown College, who was ranked #1 in the country. In his three seasons he mentored one AFCA All-American, one NAIA All-American, two BSN All-Americans, three Mid-South Conference 1st Team All-Conference players, and one Honorable Mention. The 2012 season the Bethel University Wildcats were the #1 Pass Defense in the Mid-South Conference. He also earned his Masters of Arts in Education Degree from Bethel University.
Before arriving at Bethel he was the Defensive Coordinator & Linebacker Coach at Joliet West High School in Joliet, Illinois. In those two years, he coached 9 All-Conference players, of which three were linebackers, and one which was a two-time All-Conference and All-Area selection as a junior, who went on to play at Harvard University. He also served as the Assistant Track Coach.
The Chicago, IL native played Linebacker at Northern Illinois University under Joe Novak, and received his Bachelor's Degree in Communications. While at NIU he was part of a squad that in 2003 defeated Maryland, Alabama, and Iowa State, rising to a No. 10 national ranking en route to a 10-2 mark. By the end of his collegiate career at NIU, the Huskies were MAC West Co-Champions in 2001, 2002, and 2004, and 2004 Silicon Valley Bowl Champions.
