Wofford football coach Shawn Watson to retire at the end of the season

Release from Wofford:

Shawn Watson announced today that he will be retiring at the conclusion of the 2026 season as head football coach at Wofford College.

Watson will be retiring after 45 years in the coaching profession, including the last five at Wofford. He came to Wofford in January 2022 as assistant head coach and offensive coordinator. On Oct. 6, 2022, he was named interim head coach, and he was named head coach on Dec. 1, 2022.

“I am grateful for the opportunity that Wofford College gave me to be the head football coach,” said Shawn Watson. “I have a deep appreciation for the administration, assistant coaches, athletics staff, faculty and fans that have made this a great place to coach. I appreciate the student-athletes here at Wofford for their hard work and dedication to the program. It has been a blessing to coach for 45 years. I want to thank my wife, Anita, and our kids for sharing me. I found my why — working with student-athletes — and I poured into them. That has made this a great ride, and why I know it’s time to retire.”

“Shawn Watson brought the team through the tough transitions that come with a mid-year coaching change and the changing NCAA climate. Through it all, he has demonstrated professionalism, integrity and a commitment to the student-athlete experience,” says Scott Kull, Robert D. Atkins ’65 Director of Athletics. “His contributions extend beyond wins and losses, and we are grateful for his service. We wish him and his wife, Anita, all the best in retirement.”

The college will recognize Watson during the Terrier’s final home game of the regular season on Saturday, Nov. 14 at Gibbs Stadium.

The college is beginning a confidential search to find the next head football coach.

Prior to Wofford, Watson spent the 2021 season as the assistant head coach and offensive coordinator at the University of Northern Iowa. Along with his work with the Panthers, he has served as offensive coordinator at Texas (2014-15), Louisville (2012-13), Nebraska (2007-10), Colorado (2000-05) and Pittsburgh (2017-18). Additionally, he was the head coach at his alma mater, Southern Illinois, from 1994-96.

The 2025 season ended with the Terriers winning six of their last seven games, including victories over Furman, Samford, The Citadel and Chattanooga, to post a 6-6 overall record and a 5-3 Southern Conference record. Maximus Pulley was a consensus All-American as he led the nation in interceptions returned for touchdown. Six players were named All-Southern Conference, with three players earning All-Freshman Team honors.

The team took a step forward in 2024, posting a 5-7 overall record with a 3-4 mark in the Southern Conference. The team won the first two games of the season, including a victory over eventual CAA conference champion Richmond. A 17-13 win at Samford was the first for the Terriers over the Bulldogs since 2014. The team added a win at Furman, giving Wofford back-to-back wins over the Paladins. Five players were named to the All-Southern Conference second team, while four players earned SoCon All-Freshman Team honors.

In his first full season as head coach in 2023, the Terriers were 2-9 overall and 2-6 in the Southern Conference. Wofford won the last two games of the season as they earned an 11-3 win at The Citadel and then downed Southern Conference Champion Furman 19-13 at Gibbs Stadium; at the time, the Paladins were ranked #2 in the nation. Following the season, DL Brandon Maina and LB David Powers earned All-Southern Conference honors. 

During his first season at Wofford in 2022, Watson helped lead the transition from the option to the pro spread as offensive coordinator. He was named interim head coach on Oct. 6 and led the team to a 3-3 record. His first win with the Terriers was on Oct. 16 against The Citadel. He followed that with wins over East Tennessee State and VMI.

Watson played safety at Southern Illinois (1979-80) and began his coaching career as a Salukis graduate assistant in 1982, making stops at Illinois and Miami (Ohio) before landing the head job at his alma mater in 1994. In his three seasons as head coach, the team was 11-22 overall and produced 20 all-conference players. He earned a bachelor’s degree in health education from SIU in 1982.