Drew Watson is in his 10th year on the football staff at Coastal Carolina University, coaching the safeties. He has also coached outside linebackers during his time at Coastal.
During his tenure at Coastal Carolina, Watson has helped the Chants[apos] defense rank among the Big South[apos]s best in pass defense. In 2009, the squad was 15th nationally (second in the league), while it led the Big South in 2008, `07, `06 and ranked second in `05. Coastal ranked fourth in the nation with 21 picks in 2009, ranking 12th in 2007 (18th), first in 2006 (19), 17th in 2005 (17), first in 2004 (27) and 16th in 2003 (17). In 2010, safeties Dominique Davenport, Keon Cunningham and Marcus Lott combined for 10 of CCU[quote]s 13 interceptions with Davenport[apos]s six ranking second in the Big South and 16th-tied in the NCAA (0.50 avg.). Davenport would also rank fourth-tied in the league (64th-tied) in passes defended and 17th-tied in tackles. The senior returned two picks for scores in 2010, one helping Coastal win at Gardner-Webb and one being Coastal[apos]s only TD in it NCAA FCS playoff game versus Western Illinois.
For his effort, Davenport was named first team All-Big South.
In 2009, Davenport ranked third on the team in tackles and added three interceptions to rank third in the Big South and 87th nationally.
From 2004-06, safety Quinton Teal was perhaps the top defender in the Big South. The two-time All-American led the Big South in interceptions three times, ranking 12th nationally in 2004, 15th in 2005 and 49th in 2006.
The 44-year-old Watson previously was on the coaching staff at Wofford College for 12 seasons. For six seasons, he served as the running backs coach and was the offensive line coach for six seasons. During his tenure at Wofford, the team led the nation in rushing offense and made the NCAA Division II Playoffs two separate occasions.
Prior to that, he served as the secondary coach at Newberry College for the 1989 and 1990 seasons.
A 1989 graduate of Newberry College with a bachelor[apos]s in business administration, Watson was a four-year letterwinner and three year starter at cornerback for the Indians. He earned Second Team NAIA All-American honors and First Team All-South Atlantic Conference honors as a senior, as well as the team[apos]s Most Valuable Player award. As a junior, he was also named Honorable Mention All-American. He attended T.L. Hanna High School, where he played football and ran track prior to graduating in 1984.
A native of Anderson, S.C., Watson resides in Conway with his wife Melanie and their son Cole (17) and daughters Cate (10) and Anna (7).
