Rashad Watson was named the defensive secondary coach in February of 2024.
2025 was another standout season for the EKU secondary under Watson with Jaheim Ward being named an All-American.
The All-American honor marks the second of 2025 for Ward, as he was named an All-American by FCS Central earlier this month, marking the second straight season a Colonel defensive back has been named an All-American under the tutelage of secondary coach Rashad Watson, joining Mike Smith Jr. from 2024.
Ward led Watson's defensive backfield in 2025, which produced 10 interceptions with a defensive passing efficiency of 123.33, the 23rd best in FCS football this season.
The Colonel secondary was a force in 2024 led by Mike Smith Jr. and Jaheim Ward.
The defense was spearheaded by captain and All-American defensive back Mike Smith Jr., who ended the season tied for the most intercep tions in the UAC with four and was rated the 10th best safety in all of Division I football by Pro Football Focus.
His impressive final season in Maroon and White saw him earn unanimous First Team All-UAC honors along with All-American honors from four separate publications as the Jacksonville, Fla. native earned first team recognition from the Walter Camp Football Foundation and AFCA, third team by FCS Central, and fourth team by Phil Steele.
The impressive play earned Smith an undrafted free agent contract with the Dallas Cowboys.
Ward earned Second Team All-UAC honors, recording the third-most tackles on the team with 66, including five tackles for loss with two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, two interceptions, and nine pass breakups.
Watson came to Richmond after spending the previous two seasons as the defensive coordinator at Tuskegee University in Alabama. While in charge of the Tiger defense, Watson helped lead Tuskegee to back-to-back winning seasons and a SIAC West Championship in 2023.
Watson’s defense also led the SIAC in interceptions and produced seven defensive all-conference honorees.
Prior to Tuskegee, Watson served as the defensive coordinator at Miles College from 2019-2021.
While at Miles, Watson oversaw the overhaul of a defense that went from last to first in the SIAC in rushing defense, interceptions, and sacks as Miles went on to claim a SIAC Championship in 2019.
The new Colonel coach also holds head coaching experience having spent two years as the head football coach at Franklin Pierce, where he led the program’s transition into NCAA Division II membership. It was his first head coaching post, which was preceded by a five-year stint at Missouri Southern State.
In this time, he developed nine all-conference selections for the Lions.
Watson also holds professional experience serving as the NFL’s Bill Walsh Diversity Fellowship Coach with the Pittsburgh Steelers in June of 2021 and with the Kansas City Chiefs in June of 2014. In these roles, he coached secondary during NFL Training Camp and assisted with special team units.
Watson played four years collegiately at Alabama A&M (1997-2001). Originally from Bessemer, Ala., Watson is a two-time graduate of Alabama A&M, with a bachelor's degree in business management and a master's degree in business marketing.
