LaTonya Watson, a veteran coach of 20+ years of Division I coaching experience, most recently served as the head coach at NCAA Division II University of New Haven and assistant coach at the University of Colorado, American University and Bucknell University, as well as a graduate assistant at Eastern Michigan University joins the NJIT women’s basketball staff in June 2018.
Watson comes to NJIT after leading NCAA Division II University of New Haven for three seasons (2015-2018).Â
In 2015-16, Watson led the Chargers to a 15-13 record and berth in the Northeast-10 semifinal championships, marking the program’s second consecutive appearance. She mentored a pair of All-Conference honorees, Honorable Mention All-American accolade and CoSIDA Third Team Academic All-American.
After three seasons coaching at the high school level, Watson resumed her collegiate coaching career, spending nine seasons as an assistant coach at the University of Colorado (1996-2005).
At University of Colorado, the Buffaloes compiled a 152-92 record during that time and competed in the NCAA Tournament on five occasions, including an Elite Eight appearance in 2002.Â
She coached 10 players who continued playing professionally during that time period, including 2002 WNBA draftee Mandy Nightingale.
As academic liaison, the team achieved a top-25 ranking in the 1999 WBCA Honor Roll while 92-percent of women’s basketball players graduated during her time in Boulder.
Watson made two stops in the Patriot League, starting with a three year stint (2008-2011) at American University.
While with the Eagles, Watson helped guide the team to back-to-back regular season titles and playing in the Patriot League championship game in 2010 and 2011, including postseason appearances in the WNIT in 2009 and 2010.
Watson returned to Colorado in 2011 as an assistant coach and spent three seasons with the Buffaloes.
She helped Colorado to 20-win seasons in 2012 and 2013, and assisted in guiding the team to postseason play for three consecutive years, including an NCAA Tournament appearance in 2013. The Buffaloes ended the 2013 regular season as the 19th-ranked team in the nation in the Associated Press Poll and the USA Today/Coaches’ Poll.
Watson spent the 2014-15 season at Bucknell University as an assistant coach and the recruiting coordinator. She helped lead the Bison to an 18-12 record in 2014-15 and a berth in the Patriot League Championship tournament.
While at Bucknell, Watson was the facilitator for the Bucknell Bison Leadership Academy, to develop student-athletes leaders, both on and off the field of play.
Watson is a 1992 graduate of Eastern Michigan University with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics.
A four-year member of the Eagles’ basketball team from 1988-92, Watson earned second team All-Mid-American Conference accolades in 1992.
A three-time Academic All-MAC selection, member of the 1989 MAC All-Freshmen team and honorable mention all-conference choice in 1991, Watson graduated ranking second in assists (446) and seventh in points (1,296) on the school’s career lists.
updated June 2018
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