Jaylon Watson was named JSU Director of Sports Performance in February 2023.
Watson spent the 2022 season at Texas Tech, where the Raiders won eight games and finished the season with a TaxAct Texas Bowl win over Ole Miss.
Prior to his time at Texas Tech, Watson spent the 2021 campaign as an assistant strength coach at Florida Atlantic working with the football program. Watson was a graduate assistant at Northern Arizona (2020) working with football, track’s sprinters, jumpers, and hurdlers, as well as with the women’s basketball team.
Watson began his coaching career as an intern at his alma mater Wyoming, assisting with all aspects of the strength and conditioning program.
As a player, Watson played linebacker, defensive end, and fullback, where he was a four-year letterwinner and a member of the Dean's honor roll list. He was a member of the 2016 Mountain West Championship team and played in three bowl games, including wins in the Idaho Potato Bowl and Arizona Bowl.
Watson graduated with a degree in Sciences in American Studies from Wyoming and is currently pursuing a Masters degree. He has certifications with The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), Certified Strength, Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), USA Weightlifting (USAW) Level 1 Sports Performance Coach (USAW-SPL1), and American Heart Association CPR/AED.
