Rodney Watson

Rodney Watson (born July 18, 1960) is an American basketball coach and the former head coach for the University of Southern Indiana. Watson succeeded Rick Herdes, who resigned following a scandal that ultimately resulted in suspension from postseason play for one year.

Rodney Watson
Watson during the 2009-10 USI season
Biographical details
Born (1960-07-18) July 18, 1960
Paris, Illinois
Alma materEastern Illinois
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1986–1988Nebraska–Omaha (assistant)
1988–2009Southern Illinois (assistant)
2009–2020Southern Indiana
Head coaching record
Overall229-74

Early life

Watson was born in Paris, Illinois and graduated from Eastern Illinois University in 1982. Rodney and his wife Carol live in Carterville, Illinois, where their kids attend school. Blake (16), Olivia (16), Zach (20), and Ashley (21). Ashley was a member of the Saluki Shaker dance team at Southern Illinois. Zach is currently a member of the USI track team in which he competes in the high jump.

Coaching career

Watson's coaching career began in 1982 at Coulterville High School in Coulterville, Illinois, where he led the team to an Illinois high school regional championship. In 1984, he became the head coach at Madison High School in Madison, Illinois, where he coached the Trojans to an appearance in the Illinois high school Elite Eight.

Collegiate assistant

In 1986, Watson began a two-year stay as an assistant the University of Nebraska-Omaha men's basketball team, before becoming an assistant coach at Southern Illinois University men's team in 1988 and remained until after the 2008–2009 season.[1] During his twenty-one seasons with the Salukis, he helped coach the team to a 430–238 record, eleven Missouri Valley Conference championships, and nine NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament appearances (the Salukis had only had one previously)--including six in his last seven years. While at SIU, Watson worked under head coaches such as Bruce Weber, Matt Painter, and Chris Lowery.[2] Neil Hayes, writing for The Chicago Sun-Times credited Watson with maintaining continuity for the team across the tenures of four different head coaches.[1]

He was considered for a position as men's basketball coach at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in 2007.[3]

Southern Indiana

On May 22, 2009, Watson was hired to fill a vacancy created by the departure of Rick Herdes, who resigned following a scandal involving multiple NCAA rules violations by USI.[4][5] Despite a one-year prohibition on postseason play imposed by the GLVC, Watson has led the team to a 23–0 start and a #2 ranking in the NABC Division II Top 25 Poll making it the best start for a first-year coach at USI. During the 2013-2014, Watson led USI to a GLVC Tournament Championship. USI also completed a season sweep of Bellarmine for the first time since the 2004-05 season.

Watson retired following the 2019–20 season. His teams compiled a record of 251–82 over his eleven seasons.[6]

Head coaching record
Statistics overview
Season Coach Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Southern Indiana (Great Lakes Valley Conference) (2009–present)
2009–10 Southern Indiana 24–315–32nd (East)None
2010–11 Southern Indiana 24–614–42nd (East)NCAA D–II First Round
2011–12 Southern Indiana 24–712–6T–3rd (East)NCAA D–II First Round
2012–13 Southern Indiana 23–813–52nd (East)NCAA D–II Second Round
2013-14 Southern Indiana 25-613-5T-2nd (East)NCAA D–II First Round
2014-15 Southern Indiana 19-812-6T-4th (East)None
2015-16 Southern Indiana 19-1110-85th (East)None
2016-17 Southern Indiana 25-515-32nd (East)NCAA D-II Regional
2017-18 Southern Indiana 20-1111-73rd (East)None
2018-19 Southern Indiana 26-913-53rdNCAA D-II Final Four
Southern Indiana: 229-74 (0.755)128-52 (0.711)
Total:229-74 (0.755)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

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References
  1. Hayes, Neil (March 21, 2007). "Little-known but much-respected: Assistant Watson 'glue that has helped make it all work'at SIU". The Chicago Sun-Times. p. 106. Retrieved 10 March 2010.
  2. Assistant saw SIUC through thick, thin, Belleville News-Democrat, March 21, 2007, p. 1D
  3. "SIUE has 3 finalists for basketball job". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. April 4, 2007. p. D7. Retrieved 10 March 2010.
  4. Randy Beard (June 11, 2009), USI coach putting along, Evansville Courier & Press
  5. "SIUC associate basketball coach may be new head coach at USI". The Southern. May 22, 2009. Retrieved 10 March 2010.
  6. Magley, Hendrix (March 23, 2020). "USI men's basketball coach Rodney Watson announces retirement". Commercial-News. Retrieved April 11, 2020.
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