David Watson is in his third year on the Trojan staff, but his second as a full-time assistant working with the defensive line (he was promoted in February of 2006). He spent his first year at USC as an offensive line graduate assistant after joining the staff in February of 2005.
Defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis was an All-American first teamer in 2006.
In 2005, offensive guard Taitusi Lutui and offensive tackle Sam Baker were All-American first teamers and they joined center Ryan Kalil on the All-Pac-10 first team. Lutui and offensive tackle Winston Justice were a second round picks in the 2006 NFL draft, while offensive guard Fred Matua was a seventh rounder.
USC played in the 2006 Rose Bowl (BCS Championship Game) and 2007 Rose Bowl.
He spent 2004 as a defensive graduate assistant at Michigan State.
He began his coaching career at Southwest Minnesota State, a Division II school. He was a graduate assistant working with the defensive line in 2002, then became a fulltime assistant in 2003 handling the defensive line and linebackers, as well as being the front 7 coordinator.
Watson, 30, played defensive end at both Minnesota and Western Illinois. He began at Minnesota for 3 years (1994-96). He earned Academic All-Big Ten honors as a freshman in 1994, then took medical redshirts because of injuries in both 1995 (knee) and 1996 (foot). He then transferred to Division I-AA Western Illinois for 3 years (1997-99), where he was an All-Gateway Conference selection each seasons. He earned All-American first team honors in 1998 and honorable mention notice in both 1997 and 1999. He set Western Illinois records for season (41) and career (72) tackles for loss. The Leathernecks advanced to the NCAA Division I-AA quarterfinals in 1997 and semifinals in 1998.
He earned his bachelor's degree in liberal arts from Western Illinois in 2001.
He was a 3-sport (football, basketball, baseball) star at Bloomington (Minn.) Jefferson High. He was the Minnesota Gatorade Player of the Year in football in 1993.
He was born on Aug. 16, 1976. He and his wife, Lesley, have a newborn son, Iain.
BIRTHDAY: Aug. 16, 1976
FAMILY: Wife, Lesley; Son, Iain, newborn.
HIGH SCHOOL: Bloomington (Minn.) Jefferson HS
EDUCATION: Bachelor's degree, liberal arts, Western Illinois, 2001
PLAYING EXPERIENCE: Bloomington (Minn.) Jefferson HS
Minnesota, defensive end, 1994-96
Western Illinois, defensive end, 1997-99
COACHING EXPERIENCE: 5 years
| YEAR | TEAM | POSITION | BOWL |
| 2006 | USC | Defensive Line | Rose |
| 2005 | USC | Grad. Asst./Off. Line | Rose |
| 2004 | Michigan St. | Def. Grad. Asst. | ----- |
| 2003 | SW Minnesota St. | Front 7 Coord/Def Line/LB | ----- |
| 2002 | SW Minnesota St. | Def. Line Grad. Asst. | ----- |
