Nearly two months after Shawn Gibbs’s departure, Fort Valley State has announced who will be the team’s next head coach.
Former SWAC assistant coach Marlon Watson will be tasked with taking over as head coach of the Wildcats.
“I look forward to seeing Coach Marlon Watson’s leadership as our head football coach,” said Fort Valley State Interim Athletic Director Daphnie Johnson. “He is an outstanding and authentic man with a strong passion for developing young men. His track record of competitive success at the collegiate levels makes me confident that he will lead our football program to new heights.”
Watson most recently served as the special teams coordinator and defensive line coach on Prairie View A&M’s coaching staff for the past two seasons.
His time at Prairie View A&M succeeded a three-year stint with Alabama A&M, where he was the defensive line coach.
Previous coaching stops also include Elizabeth City State, Upper Iowa, Georgia Military College, and Bethel University, where he received his Master’s degree.
Fort Valley posted a 6-4 overall record in the 2024 season, including a 6-2 record against the SIAC. They have not finished a season with a losing record since 2018.
