Marlon Watson joins the Peacock for his first season with Upper Iowa football in 2021 after three seasons at Elizabeth City State University in Elizabeth City, N.C. Watson will serve as the team’s defensive coordinator and coach the linebackers.
Prior to ECSU, Watson spent three seasons working with the defense at Alabama A&M University. Before his stop at AA&MU, Watson served as the linebacker coach at Georgia Military College.
Watson served as the defensive back coach, co-special teams coordinator, and junior varsity defensive coordinator at Bethel University in Tennessee before moving to GMC. 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. During the 2012 season, Bethel was the #1 Pass Defense in the Mid-South Conference. Before arriving at Bethel he was the defensive coordinator & linebacker coach at Joliet West High School in Joliet, Illinois; he also served as the assistant track coach.
The Chicago, Ill. native played linebacker at Northern Illinois University under Joe Novak. While at NIU he was part of a squad that defeated Maryland, Alabama, and Iowa State in 2003. The Huskies rose 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.
He earned his Bachelor's Degree in communications from Northern Illinois and then completed his Master’s Degree in education at Bethel University.
