Watson brothers make coaching career moves

By JOHN KOVACH

VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF

AUSTINTOWN — The Watson brothers from Austintown, after enjoying standout playing careers for Fitch High and at Mount Union College as All-Americans, now are coaching college football on the NCAA Divison I level.

Stan Watson, 27, a linebacker and 2003 Mount Union graduate who helped the Purple Raiders win four NCAA Division III national championships, is in his first season as a full-time assistant at Bowling Green State University under coach Gregg Brandon.

Ross Watson, 24, a 2006 Mount Union graduate who as All-American cornerback also helped his team to win two national titles, is in his first year as a graduate assistant coach on defense at Nebraska under new mentor Bo Pelini from Cardinal Mooney.

Stan Watson, who made All-American in 2002, joined another area coach on the Bowling Green staff. Doug Phillips, a native of New Middletown and a Springfield graduate, is in his second year coaching defensive ends.

Phillips, a 1991 Toledo graduate and a former coach at Springfield (1997-2000) and Salem (2001-05) and a YSU assistant under Jim Tressel, came to Bowling Green from Ohio State where he served as defensive quality control coach in 2006 under Tressel.

Stan Watson just recently earned his Master’s degree from the U.S. Sports Academy. He and his wife, Stephanie, have a daughter, Addison, 1.

The only area player on the Bowling Green roster is Nick Tuminello, a freshman defensive lineman from Boardman High.

Ross Watson joined the Huskers after spending two seasons as the cornerbacks coach at his alma mater, helping Mount Union to a 29-1 record and the 2006 national championship.

He joins two other area coaches at Nebraska in addition to Bo Pelini — Carl Pelini (Bo’s brother) and Tim Beck, both from Mooney in their first year.

Bo Pelini, a former Ohio State safety and a 1990 graduate, returned to Nebraska from Louisiana State where he was defensive coordinator for three years.

Pelini previously served as defensive coordinator and interim head coach at Nebraska in 2003. He led the Cornhuskers to a 17-3 win over Michigan State in the Alamo Bowl, before becoming co-defensive coordinator at Oklahoma for 2004 under coach Bob Stoops, also of Mooney.

Carl Pelini, a 1989 YSU graduate who coached Fitch from 2000-02, will serve as the Cornhuskers’ defensive coordinator and defensive line coach. He came from Ohio University where he coached three seasons on Frank Solich’s staff.

Beck, a Central Florida graduate, will coach the running backs at Nebraska along with providing recruiting help in Texas where he coached high school football. Beck came to Nebraska from Kansas where he was an assistant coach for three years under Mark Mangino, a New Castle native and YSU graduate.

Tim Marlowe, freshman wide receiver from Cardinal Mooney, is the only area player on the Nebraska roster.

kovach@vindy.com