Mark Watson, Jr. joined head coach Bob Nielson's coaching staff in spring 2013. After coaching the wide receivers for two seasons, he moves over to the defensive side of the ball and will coach in the secondary starting with the 2015 season.
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In Watson’s first year, the only two true-freshmen to play for Western were both wide receivers, and they were part of a newcomer group that bolstered the receiving corps.
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Lance Lenoir, Jr. was named to the Missouri Valley Football Conference All-Newcomer team after becoming the first WIU freshman to lead the team in receiving yards and touchdowns. Lenoir’s seven TD receptions tied for the ninth-most in a WIU season and tied for the second-most nationally by a freshman. Joey Borsellino became the first WIU freshman to lead the team in receptions and he was second in yardage. Junior transfer Hi-C Scott finished third in both receptions and yardage.
During the 2014 season, Lenoir set a program record for most receptions in a season and he became the only underclassman to record 1,000 receiving yards in a season. Lenoir was the lone First Team All-MVFC selection on the squad.
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Borsellino surpassed 1,000 career receiving yards during the season, as did Scott – one of the few times in Leatherneck history three receivers on the same team each had 1,000 career yards.
Watson joined the Leathernecks after spending the 2012 season at USC. He worked as a graduate assistant coach for the Trojans in the secondary as USC finished 7-6, losing in the Sun Bowl. The defense finished 41st in pass efficiency defense and tied for 40th in scoring defense.
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Originally from St. Charles, Missouri, Watson worked for two years at Drake University as the cornerbacks coach - on staff during the 2011 season with former Leatherneck defensive coordinator Brian Ward. Both seasons that Watson spent with the Bulldogs, they led the Pioneer League in interceptions. The 2011 team won the PFL title, finishing seventh in scoring defense and 10th in total defense.
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A three-year starter in the secondary, Watson began his playing career at Missouri Southern before transferring to McPherson College, where he finished his career as a two-year starter and team captain his senior year. Watson played for coach Ward for a season at Missouri Southern, and played his final two years at McPherson with Ward as his head coach.
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During his prep career at Francis Howell High School, Watson was a standout athlete in football, baseball and track. He helped his baseball squad win the 2003 Class 4A state title and was a member of the school record 4x100 relay team.
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Watson earned his bachelor's degree in Business Management from McPherson in 2010.
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