Stan Watson

Stan Watson joined head coach Mike Elko’s staff in 2024 as a senior defensive analyst before being elevated to an assistant coach role in 2025, working with the defensive ends. Watson brings more than a decade of coaching experience across the college and professional ranks.

In 2025, Watson helped mentor Cashius Howell, who became the first Texas A&M player to earn SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors after leading the conference with 11.5 sacks and ranking fourth with 14.0 tackles for loss. He also generated 41 quarterback pressures, according to Pro Football Focus, and recorded six pass breakups. Howell earned unanimous First Team All-America recognition and was a finalist for the Lombardi, Chuck Bednarik and Bronko Nagurski awards. He earned SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week honors four times, setting a Texas A&M program record.

Howell became the program’s 11th unanimous All-American and helped lead the Aggies to their first College Football Playoff appearance. He finished the season with the most sacks by an Aggie since Myles Garrett recorded 11.5 in 2014, while his four SEC Defensive Lineman of the Week honors were the most in program history.

Prior to coming to Aggieland, Watson spent time in the NFL with the Cleveland Browns, joining the organization in 2014 as an intern before being elevated to a quality control coaching role for special teams in 2016 under head coach Hue Jackson.

Watson coached alongside Elko at Bowling Green State University from 2009-11, first as cornerbacks coach before moving to outside linebackers coach. He also spent time at the University of Toledo as special teams coordinator and outside linebackers coach in 2012-13.

Watson’s coaching career began at his alma mater, the University of Mount Union, where he took over as defensive line coach immediately after graduating. He went on to serve as defensive coordinator and linebackers coach, then defensive coordinator and secondary coach, at Emory & Henry College before making the jump to Bowling Green as a defensive graduate assistant in 2008.

A linebacker at Mount Union from 1998-2002, Watson was part of four national championship teams and was a three-time All-Ohio Athletic Conference first-team honoree. He was a senior All-American and was elected team captain his final season.

Watson is married to the former Stephanie Burnich of Youngstown, Ohio, and they are the parents of Addi and Ross.