MURFREESBORO – David Watson spent the past few weeks as Blackman’s interim football coach as the Blaze went through offseason workouts.
On Tuesday, Blackman principal Leisa Justus dropped the interim tag and named him the school’s next head coach.
“David is an organizer and very, very bright. And he has a heart for these kids,” Justus said. “As soon as he was named interim he immediately took control and made sure our kids were OK and provided leadership through a tough time to tell you the truth.”
Watson, who has been at the school since 2010 as an assistant, replaces former coach Philip Shadowens.
Shadowens resigned last month on the heels of an ongoing investigation into the football program and booster club by the Rutherford County School system. The Rutherford County Sheriff’s Department is also currently investigating the program and booster club.
No one has been named in either investigation.
“I’m excited for us to be able to get a little bit of stability and continuity,” Watson said. “The last month has been pretty hectic.
“It will be good for our kids and school to settle down a little bit and move forward.”
Watson has been the Blaze’s offensive line coach and offensive coordinator during his Blackman tenure. This past year he was the team’s defensive coordinator while also continuing to assist the offensive line.
Watson was a standout offensive lineman at Oakland and later played at MTSU.
He was a former assistant at Riverdale under former coach Gary Rankin and helped Blackman’s first coach David Alsup start the Blaze program before becoming Siegel’s first coach in 2003.
Watson went 25-47 in seven seasons at Siegel, but was 16-14 over his final three years.
Watson said he’s learned a lot from his first stint as head coach.
“I think you have to have really good support behind you from your administration and a solid coaching staff with a lot of resources,” he said. When you have all of those things in place like we do at Blackman it allows you to stay true to what your philosophies are and to keep blinders on and be focused toward what your vision is for your football program.
“That’s the biggest thing I’ve seen and learned over the past (six) years. I’ve seen a guy (in Shadowens) that had a vision and everyday be focused on that vision.”
Justus said the school received 50 applicants for the position and a search committee interviewed five.
“He came out on top of the committee,” Justus said.
Blackman went 59-17 in Shadowens’ six seasons, making the Class 6A playoffs each year. The Blaze reached the semifinals in 2013 — the first in school history.
Blackman finished 11-2 this season, losing to Oakland in a Class 6A quarterfinal game.
Contact Tom Kreager at 615-278-5168 or tkreager@dnj.com. Follow him on Twitter @Kreager.