Watson began his college coaching career at NCAA Division II Southwest Minnesota State.
Watson joined the staff at USC in February 2005, serving his first year as an offensive line graduate assistant.
As a freshman, he earned Academic All-Big Ten honors in 1994; his career was then beset by two season-ending injuries that caused him to take medical redshirt seasons for both 1995 and 1996.
[2] During his first two seasons with USC, former high school teammate Lane Kiffin served as Offensive coordinator for the Trojans.
On May 17, 2008, Watson was arrested under suspicion of driving under the influence of prescription drugs and underwent rehabilitation treatment after encouragement from USC Head Coach Pete Carroll.