Rodney Watson
Men's Basketball Head Coach
Phone: 812/465-1639
Email:
rjwatson@usi.edu
Rodney Watson, the ninth head coach in the history of the USI men's basketball team, had the Screaming Eagles soaring during his first season in 2009-10.
The 2010 GLVC Coach of the Year led USI to a 24-3 overall mark and ninth-place finish in the national poll during his first season. The Eagles set a school-record with 23-straight wins and were ranked as high as second in the national ranking.
The 24-wins were the most by a first-year USI head coach. The 2009-10 squad also featured Basketball Times Division II Player of the Year and All-American Jamar Smith.
Watson took the helm of the Eagles after 21 seasons at Southern Illinois University. He has been the associate head coach the last two seasons after spending 19 seasons as an assistant coach under head coaches Rich Herrin, Bruce Weber, Matt Painter, and Chris Lowery.
During Watson's tenure at SIU, the Salukis have won 11 Missouri Valley Conference championships and qualified for nine NCAA Tournaments and six NITs. SIU also compiled a 430-237 record, a .645 winnings percentage, and was ranked in the top 15 nationally in scoring defense four times in the last five seasons.
Watson helped direct five Salukis to Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Player of the Year honors; four to Newcomer of the Year awards; five to Freshman of the Year accolades; and nine to Defensive Player of the Year honors. The Salukis had 30 players earn All-MVC honors (18 first team and 12 second) during Watson's 21 seasons.
The Salukis' success was not limited to the basketball court, with 23 of the last 24 seniors earning bachelor's degrees since 2002. SIU had the Prairie Farms Student Athlete of the Year for men's basketball three times since the award was created in 2002.
A native of Paris, Illinois, Watson started his coaching career at Coulterville High School, where he guided the Eagles to the program's first regional championship. He moved to Madison High School in 1984 and led the Trojans to a regional and sectional championship, advancing to the Illinois Elite Eight.
Success at the high school level was a springboard to the college ranks, beginning with a two-year stretch in 1986 at the University of Nebraska-Omaha. He moved to SIU in 1988, beginning his 20-plus season association with the Salukis.
Watson and his wife Carol have four children, Ashley, Zachary, and twins, Olivia and Blake.
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